Table of contents

1. Introduction to Genetics51m
2. Mendel's Laws of Inheritance3h 37m
3. Extensions to Mendelian Inheritance2h 41m
4. Genetic Mapping and Linkage2h 28m
5. Genetics of Bacteria and Viruses1h 21m
6. Chromosomal Variation1h 48m
7. DNA and Chromosome Structure56m
8. DNA Replication1h 10m
9. Mitosis and Meiosis1h 34m
10. Transcription1h 0m
11. Translation58m
12. Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes1h 19m
13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes44m
14. Genetic Control of Development44m
15. Genomes and Genomics1h 50m
16. Transposable Elements47m
17. Mutation, Repair, and Recombination1h 6m
18. Molecular Genetic Tools19m
- Genetic Cloning
  9m
- Methods for Analyzing DNA
  9m
19. Cancer Genetics29m
- Overview of Cancer
  21m
- Cancer Mutations
  7m
20. Quantitative Genetics1h 26m
21. Population Genetics50m
- Hardy Weinberg
  19m
- Allelic Frequency Changes
  31m
22. Evolutionary Genetics29m

19. Cancer Genetics

Cancer Mutations

Genetics

19. Cancer Genetics

Cancer Mutations

Previous problemNext problem

1:36 minutes

Problem C.7b

Textbook Question

Why do most cancers require the mutation of multiple genes?

Verified step by step guidance

Understand that cancer is a complex disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth and division, which results from genetic mutations affecting cellular functions.

Recognize that multiple genes are involved in regulating cell cycle, DNA repair, apoptosis (programmed cell death), and other critical cellular processes that maintain normal cell behavior.

Identify that mutations in a single gene are often insufficient to cause cancer because cells have redundant and overlapping mechanisms to prevent abnormal growth.

Learn that for a cell to become cancerous, mutations typically need to accumulate in several key types of genes, such as oncogenes (which promote cell division when activated) and tumor suppressor genes (which inhibit cell division or promote apoptosis when functioning properly).

Conclude that the requirement for multiple gene mutations arises because cancer development involves overcoming multiple cellular safeguards, and only the combined effect of these mutations leads to the loss of normal growth control.

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above

Video duration:

Play a video:

Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Multistep Nature of Cancer Development

Cancer typically arises through a series of genetic changes rather than a single mutation. Multiple mutations accumulate over time, each contributing to the transformation of normal cells into malignant ones by disrupting various cellular processes.

Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressor Genes

Cancer involves mutations in oncogenes, which promote cell growth, and tumor suppressor genes, which inhibit growth or repair DNA. Both types of genes must be altered to override normal cell regulation and allow uncontrolled proliferation.

Genetic Instability and Mutation Accumulation

Genetic instability in cells increases mutation rates, enabling the accumulation of multiple gene mutations. This instability is crucial for cancer progression, as it allows cells to acquire the diverse mutations needed to evade growth controls and resist cell death.

Watch next

Master Cancer Mutations with a bite sized video explanation from Kylia

Start learning

Related Videos

Related Practice

Textbook Question

How can mutations in non-coding segments of DNA contribute to the development of cancers?

406

views

Textbook Question

Radiation is frequently used as part of the treatment of cancer. The radiation works by damaging DNA and components of the cell. Under what circumstances do you think radiation treatment is a good choice to treat cancer?

329

views

Textbook Question

Radiation is frequently used as part of the treatment of cancer. The radiation works by damaging DNA and components of the cell. How can radiation treatment control or cure cancer?

385

views

Textbook Question

Radiation is frequently used as part of the treatment of cancer. The radiation works by damaging DNA and components of the cell. Is there a risk of damage to noncancer cells?

380

views

Textbook Question

Based on what you read in this chapter, Can a tumor arise from a single mutated cell? Are all the cells in a tumor identical?

425

views

Textbook Question

The inheritance of certain mutations of BRCA1 can make it much more likely that a woman will develop breast or ovarian cancer in her lifetime. Can you say with certainty that a woman inheriting a mutation of BRCA1 will definitely develop breast or ovarian cancer in her lifetime? Why or why not?

366

views

Textbook Question

The inheritance of certain mutations of BRCA1 can make it much more likely that a woman will develop breast or ovarian cancer in her lifetime. In addition to inheriting a BRCA1 mutation, what else must happen for a woman to develop breast or ovarian cancer?

288

views

Textbook Question

Go to the website http://www.cancer.gov and select 'Cancer Types' on the top menu bar. Scroll down to 'Breast Cancer' and click. Select 'Cases & Prevention' from the options. Click 'More information' and select 'BRCA Mutations: Cancer Risk and Genetic Testing'. Use the information on this page to answer the following questions. Are there measures a woman with a positive result can take to lessen her chances of developing cancer or to catch a cancer early in its development?

439

views

Show more practices

Download the Mobile app

Privacy

Do not sell my personal information

Accessibility

Patent notice

Sitemap