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Tumor Suppressor Genes In A Cancer Cell

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Cancer cell and a normal cell are similar because they go through the same process but are also different because a cancer cell does some of those processes a little different. A normal cell in the G1 phase uses p53 which inhibits the cell cycle almost like a pause. It gives the body time to repair the dna cells or dispose of the ones that cannot be fixed. Once it is fixed then the P53 releases the repaired cell and continues on to the next phase. The G1 phase in a 150 minute cell cycle would be around 30 minutes. However in the mutated cancer cell the p53 stops working and so the damaged cells are never repaired or killed off and continue with the phases. During the S phase in a normal cell basic dna synthesis occurs as well as chromosome …show more content…

One gene that is prominent in the regulation and development of cells is the Tumor Suppressor Gene. The function of the Tumor Suppressor Gene is to inhibit cell growth when it is deemed necessary in the body. When this gene is mutated is result in the overgrowth of cells because the body can not inform the proper cells to stop growing which can lead to cancer. Cells begin to take up space and oxygen without regard to the other cells around them. The gene “p53” is a common mutation of tumor suppressor genes and is said to be a cause and the development of cancers such as breast cancer. The problem with this mutation is that at the G1 checkpoint of interphase the mutated cell moves directly from G1 to S phase and produces two daughter cells with the mutated p53 gene. The Tumor Suppressor gene “apc” is also mutated in a majority of colorectal cancers. Researchers found that two protein inactivating mutations at apc result in sporadic tumors on the colerectum. Another gene that aids in cell reproduction is the Proto-Oncogene. The proto-oncogene stimulates cell growth. When this gene is mutated is results in the overgrowth of cells because the body is stimulating the cells to continue to divide and produce uncontrollably which can cause cancer because again cancer is defined as the uncontrollable division of cells. The oncogene version of the ras family has been proven to be present in a variety of cancers. The ras family has three major genes including H-ras, K-ras and N-ras. When ras genes are mutated they grow uncontrollably and evade death signals. The gene “k-ras” has played an early role in the development of pancreatic cancer. The last prominent gene that aid in cell cycle is DNA Repair Genes. DNA Repair Genes correct mistakes in DNA, mistakes which result in certain parts of the DNA producing the incorrect protein and function. When this gene is mutated the gene is

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