M131 – Disease and the Human Body

Fall 2021
Section 2: Cancer
Richard Carpenter, Ph.D.

Lecture 2 What is Cancer and What are its Causes Class Notes:

What are the 5 main phases of the cell cycle? What contribution does cell proliferation have to
embryonic development? no proliferation= no multicell organism
G1 phase- accumulation of signal to pass the r point
S phase- all of DNA is replication
G2 phase- prep for mitosis
M phase- cell divides into 2 daughter cells
G0 phase- non-dividing quiescent state (differentiated)

*cancer has uncontrolled progression through the cell cycle*

What is cell differentiation? What contribution does differentiation have to embryonic development?
cell differentiation- a way for a cell to become specialized
- pluripotent stem cells differentiate to become specialized cells
- 200 cells known to humans
- terminally-differentiated have reduced proliferation
- process of differentiation is critical to make sure all the organs work in the body

What is cell apoptosis? What contribution does apoptosis have to embryonic development?
apoptosis is programmed cell death
- initiated by the cellular environment
-tumors have reduced apoptosis
plays a big role in patterning, shape in the limbs

What is cell migration? What contribution does migration have to embryonic development?
- ability of cells to move around
- important in organism development
-critical for cancer metastasis
embryonic development couldn't happen without cell migration
what is cancer why is it lethal?
- cancer is the accumulation of a mass of cells in the origin site of
the tumor
- tumor mass interferes with normal function of that organ
- if organ is essential to life, it must be removed in order for the
person to survive
what causes cancer?
- multicellular organisms limit the autonomy of individual cells for the greater good of the
organism
-differentiated cells typically cannot divide without pro-growth signals from neighboring cells
- cancer arises when the basic rules of cell-specific or social control of proliferation are violated

What are the 4 bases that make up DNA? Which bases match together?
c
g
u
a

How does DNA store genetic information?

How many chromosomes do humans carry?

46 , 22 conserved chromosomes plus either XY or XX ,
carry 99% of genes for humans, additional genes in mitochondria

What is a gene?
sequence of DNA that codes for a functional molecule

how do the cells function?

- DNA stores hereditary info
- most ever cells in ur body has 2 full copies of your genome
- DNA encodes RNA that encodes for protein
-DNA->RNA->Protein
-transcription makes RNA from DNA, then translation makes protein from RNA
What is gene transcription?
makes RNA from DNA

What is translation?
makes protein from RNA

What is the “genetic code?” [DO NOT MEMORIZE THE GENETIC CODE BUT EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS
CONCEPTUALLY]
What is the primary process that is occurring during S-phase of the cell cycle?
all DNA is replicated,
- parent strand separates to get two strands

What is the R point? What controls whether cells proceed past the R point?
- restriction point before cell commits to S-phase(G1/S checkpoint)
- main decision point for a cell to choose whether or not to divide
- passing the R point is the result of an accumulation of cellular growth signals
G1 chooses if the accumulation of growth and antigrowth signals are correct

What are the other cell cycle checkpoints?

G1 phase- accumulation of signal to pass the r point
S phase- all of DNA is replication
G2 phase- prep for mitosis
M phase- cell divides into 2 daughter cells
G0 phase- non-dividing quiescent state (differentiated)

What is unique about the cell cycle in cancer?

-has uncontrolled progression through the cell cycle
- progressive accumulation of mutational evens leads to progression of tumor

What causes cancer?

- cancer arises when the basic rules of the cell-specific or social control of proliferation are violated
- progenitor cells multiply too rapidly
- cell cycle not accelerated but
-