The Eukaryotic Cell Cycle and

Cancer Overview Click & Learn

Student Worksheet

DIRECTIONS
Go to: https://www.biointeractive.org/classroom-resources/eukaryotic-cell-cycle-and-cancer and click
“Launch Interactive.”

PROCEDURE
Follow the instructions as you proceed through the Click & Learn and answer the questions in a different color in
the spaces below.

Click on the “Background” tab on the right side. Read the information and watch the videos.
1. Why is cell division important for both single-celled and multicellular organisms?
Cell division is important for both single-celled and multicellular organisms because they reproduce through cell
division.

2. Why does cell division remain important to an adult organism even after it is fully developed?
Cell division remains important to an adult organism because of cell renewal and healing wounds.

3. Cells divide, differentiate, or die. What is differentiation?

Differentiation is when cells stop dividing to specialize in structure and function.

4. What is apoptosis? What is its purpose?

Apoptosis is programmed cell death; its purpose is to eliminate unnecessary cells during development and remove
unhealthy or damaged cells in the mature organism.

5. What are cell cycle regulators?

Cell cycle regulators are molecular signals that may stimulate or halt cell division, instruct cells to differentiate, or
initiate cell death.

6. What happens if cell cycle regulators don’t function properly?

If the cell cycle regulators don’t function properly then an organism can end up with to many or to few cells.

Click on the purple section labeled “Cell Cycle Phases” as well as the words “Mitosis” and “Interphase” to read
an overview of the cell cycle. You can also click on the various phases.
7. Cells go through periods of growth and division. Cell division occurs during Mitosis .
The rest of the cell cycle is called interphase, during which (use the space below to complete this sentence)

Cell Cycle Updated February 2020

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 Click & Learn
The Eukaryotic Cell Cycle and Cancer – Overview Student Worksheet
8. Fill in the details about what happens during the three phases of interphase labeled in the diagram.

Gap 1,  the cell grows and functions

normally.

Synthesis, The cells and centrosomes are

duplicated.

9. In general, what is the purpose of a checkpoint in the cell cycle?

The purpose of a checkpoint in the cell cycle is so a cell can progress towards the next stage.

10. What is the G0 phase of the cell cycle?

a. Which factors determine whether a cell enters G0?
Resting or non-dividing stage.

b. Can cells leave G0?

Yes, cells can leave G0, but there is a certain amount of cells that can be entered.

Click on “Cell Cycle Regulators and Cancer” in the center purple circle. Read the “Regulators Overview” and
then read through the “Cancer Overview” and watch the videos.
11. What are cell cycle regulators?
 Proteins that control the progression of a cell through the cell cycle and can either stimulate or inhibit cell
cycle progression. Gap 2, The cell continues to grow to
prepare for mitosis.

a. Stimulating proteins are encoded by PROTO-ONCOGENES .

 Examples include: CDK’s

Click & Learn

The Eukaryotic Cell Cycle and Cancer – Overview Student Worksheet
b. Inhibitory proteins are encoded by Tumor suppressor genes .

Examples include: p53

12. Cancer is the result of an improperly regulated cell cycle. Describe two reasons why cells can form tumors.
Tumors can occur when a mutation occurs in a proto-oncogene or in a tumor suppressor gene.

13. In some types of colon cancer, stem cells have a mutation in the APC gene. What happens if the APC gene is
mutated?
If the APC gene is mutated it can lead to the formation of a tumor in the colon.

14. Normally, proto-oncogenes stimulate the cell cycle. What are oncogenes and how do they affect the cell
cycle?
Oncogenes are mutated forms of a proto-oncogene and can lead to overstimulation of the cell cycle. Cell cycle goes
into overdrive.

a. To cause cancer, proto-oncogenes require one allele(s) to be mutated and therefore are
considered dominant . The mutation results in a gain of function.
15. Normally, tumor suppressor genes inhibit the cell cycle. How do mutated tumor suppressor genes affect the
cell cycle?

a. To cause cancer, tumor suppressor genes require two allele(s) to be mutated and therefore are
considered recessive . The mutation results in a loss of function.