Chapter 18, Problem 42A

Summary Introduction

To describe:

The difference between the cell cycle of a normal cell and the cancer cell.

Introduction:

Cancer can be defined as the group of diseases that results when cellular changes cause the uncontrolled growth and division of cells.

Explanation of Solution

Cancer cells do not show a property called contact inhibition. Cancer cells shows a growth rate which is abnormally very rapid and are poorly differentiated, and have abnormal membranes, cytoskeletal proteins, and morphology. The abnormality in the cells causes the failure of the cell cycle checkpoints and the failure of the checkpoint causes the activation of the cell division factors, which makes cells to go again to the mitotic phase.