Textbook Question
How do we know that malignant tumors arise from a single cell that contains mutations?
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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 1b
How do we know that cancer development requires more than one mutation?
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that cancer is a complex disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth, which typically arises from genetic mutations affecting cell cycle regulation.
Recognize that if a single mutation were sufficient to cause cancer, we would expect cancer to develop very rapidly and frequently after just one genetic change.
Examine experimental and epidemiological evidence showing that cancer incidence increases with age and exposure to multiple carcinogens, suggesting accumulation of several mutations over time.
Consider the multi-step model of carcinogenesis, which proposes that multiple mutations in different genes (such as oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes) are necessary to disrupt normal cellular controls and lead to cancer.
Review genetic studies of tumors that identify multiple mutations in various genes within cancer cells, supporting the idea that cancer development requires a series of genetic alterations rather than a single mutation.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Multistep Carcinogenesis
Cancer develops through a series of genetic changes rather than a single mutation. This multistep process involves the accumulation of multiple mutations that progressively disrupt normal cell regulation, leading to uncontrolled growth and malignancy.
Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressor Genes
Cancer arises from mutations in oncogenes, which promote cell division, and tumor suppressor genes, which inhibit growth. Both types of genes must be altered to bypass normal cellular controls, indicating that multiple genetic changes are necessary for cancer development.
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Evidence from Epidemiology and Experimental Studies
Epidemiological data show that cancer incidence increases with age, reflecting the time needed for multiple mutations to accumulate. Experimental models also demonstrate that introducing a single mutation rarely causes cancer, supporting the requirement of multiple genetic alterations.
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