Textbook Question
What is apoptosis, and under what circumstances do cells undergo this process?
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Ch. 19 - The Genetics of Cancer
Klug10th EditionEssentials of GeneticsISBN: 9780135588789
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Introduction to Genetics16
- Ch. 2 - Mitosis and Meiosis28
- Ch. 3 - Mendelian Genetics37
- Ch. 4 - Modification of Mendelian Ratios53
- Ch. 5 - Sex Determination and Sex Chromosomes32
- Ch. 6 - Chromosome Mutations: Variation in Number and Arrangement37
- Ch. 7 - Linkage and Chromosome Mapping in Eukaryotes36
- Ch. 8 - Genetic Analysis and Mapping in Bacteria and Bacteriophages24
- Ch. 9 - DNA Structure and Analysis38
- Ch. 10 - DNA Replication29
- Ch. 11 - Chromosome Structure and DNA Sequence Organization22
- Ch. 12 - The Genetic Code and Transcription36
- Ch. 13 - Translation and Proteins27
- Ch. 14 - Gene Mutation, DNA Repair, and Transposition34
- Ch. 15 - Regulation of Gene Expression in Bacteria22
- Ch. 16 - Regulation of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes37
- Ch. 17 - Recombinant DNA Technology27
- Ch. 18 - Genomics, Bioinformatics, and Proteomics30
- Ch. 19 - The Genetics of Cancer21
- Ch. 20 - Quantitative Genetics and Multifactorial Traits37
- Ch. 21 - Population and Evolutionary Genetics45
Chapter 19, Problem 12
If a cell suffers damage to its DNA while in S phase, how can this damage be repaired before the cell enters mitosis?
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that the S phase is the part of the cell cycle where DNA replication occurs, so the DNA is being copied and is more vulnerable to damage.
Recognize that cells have specific DNA damage repair mechanisms active during S phase, such as the homologous recombination repair pathway, which uses the sister chromatid as a template for accurate repair.
Identify that the cell cycle has checkpoints, particularly the G2/M checkpoint, which monitors DNA integrity after replication and before mitosis to prevent progression if damage is detected.
Explain that if DNA damage is detected during S phase or G2, the cell cycle can be temporarily halted to allow repair mechanisms to fix the damage before mitosis begins.
Summarize that the combination of DNA repair pathways (like homologous recombination) and cell cycle checkpoints ensures that DNA damage incurred during S phase is repaired before the cell enters mitosis, maintaining genomic stability.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
DNA Damage and Repair Mechanisms
Cells have specialized pathways to detect and repair DNA damage, such as base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair, and homologous recombination. These mechanisms ensure genomic integrity by correcting errors before cell division.
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Repair Pathways
S Phase and DNA Replication
The S phase is the part of the cell cycle where DNA is replicated. During this phase, the cell is particularly vulnerable to DNA damage, but also has active repair systems to fix errors before replication completes and the cell progresses to mitosis.
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Cell Cycle Checkpoints
Checkpoints are control mechanisms that monitor and regulate the progression of the cell cycle. The G2/M checkpoint ensures that DNA damage is repaired after S phase and before mitosis, preventing the division of cells with damaged DNA.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Define tumor-suppressor genes. Why is a mutated single copy of a tumor-suppressor gene expected to behave as a recessive gene?
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Textbook Question
Distinguish between oncogenes and proto-oncogenes. In what ways can proto-oncogenes be converted to oncogenes?
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Textbook Question
Of the two classes of genes associated with cancer, tumor-suppressor genes and oncogenes, mutations in which group can be considered gain-of-function mutations? In which group are the loss-of-function mutations? Explain.
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Textbook Question
How do translocations such as the Philadelphia chromosome contribute to cancer?
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