Download grow or replace damaged cells

MITOSIS &
CANCER
Mitosis Review
The process where a single cell divides into two
identical cells with the same genetic content
(DNA) as the original cell
What is the cell cycle?
A cell cycle
includes
MITOSIS.
It is a repeating
sequence of cell
growth and
division during
the life of an
organism.
There are
proteins along
the way that
work as
checkpoints.
Proteins signal
cells to divide
if the organism
needs to grow
or replace
damaged cells.
Protein Signaling
Proteins signal cells to divide if the organism
needs to grow or replace damaged cells
Examples:
• Tumor-Suppressor Proteins: cause the cell
to kill itself if there is damaged DNA
• Proto-oncogenes: help regulate cell growth
Mutations
• What might go wrong with your body if these
proteins weren’t working correctly (were
mutated)?
• Tumor-suppressor: can cause the cell to kill
itself if there is damaged DNA
• Proto-oncogenes: help regulate cell growth
CANCER
• If there is a mutation and the cell cannot kill
itself when damaged, or grows out of
control……
Healthy liver
tissue
Cancerous liver tissue
Cancer is when cells grow out of control!
• Then, cancer can spread to other parts of the
body through the blood stream.
cancer cells
bloodstream
Cancer is VERY COMMON
• 165,810 new cases of cancer in California 2012
• 1,638,910 new cancer cases total in 2012
• In 2007, the National Institute of Health
estimated overall cancer costs to be $226.8
billion.
• In 2009, cancer accounted for 47.9% of all
deaths
Cure for cancer?
There is no one “cure” for cancer because there
are SO MANY types of cells that can become
cancerous when there is a mutation in DNA!
This means that rather than one cure…
… scientists are working on millions!