Chapter 9, Problem 36A

Summary Introduction

To explain:

The relationship between cancer cells and cell cycle

Introduction:

A cell grows until it reaches its size limit, then it either stops growing or divides. Most cells undergo division. Cell division helps a cell to reproduce and makes the organism grow and heal certain injuries. A cell cycle has a system of control checkpoints to monitor the cycle and stop it if something goes wrong.

Answer to Problem 36A

Sometimes cells fail to respond to normal cell cycle control mechanisms. This may lead to a condition called cancer. Canceris uncontrolled, unrestrained growth and division of cells due to failure in regulation of cell cycle.

Explanation of Solution

Cancer occurs when the normal cell cycle is disrupted and the cell does not respond to control mechanisms. Cancer is uncontrolled growth and division of cells. These unchecked cancer cells can even kill the organism by crowding out normal cells resulting in loss of tissue function. Cancer cells spend less time in interphase than do normal cells. They continue to grow and divide as long as they are supplied with nutrients. The changes occur in regulation of cell growth and division of cancer cells due to mutations or changes in certain segments of DNA. Often the genes are altered due to some environmental factors, age and food habits.