Question

what is the relationship between mutation, the cell cycle, and cancer? select (3)

• cancerous cells may form malignant tumors that invade and destroy surrounding healthy tissue.
• mutated, defective genes may cause cells not to be able to respond to signals that regulate the cell cycle and thereby their growth.
• as a result of unregulated cell cycles, cells may become cancerous, meaning that the cells grow and divide uncontrollably.
• mutated genes allow cells to respond to checkpoint proteins that halt the cell cycle, thus avoiding formation of tumors.

Explanation:

1. Analyze each option:

• Option 1: Cancerous cells forming malignant tumors that invade healthy tissue is a characteristic of cancer, related to the outcome of unregulated cell growth from mutations and cell cycle issues.
• Option 2: Mutated genes can disrupt cell cycle regulation signals, leading to unregulated growth, which is a key link between mutation, cell cycle, and cancer.
• Option 3: Unregulated cell cycles (due to mutations) cause cells to grow/divide uncontrollably, defining cancer, so this connects the three.
• Option 4: Mutated genes would not help respond to checkpoint proteins to halt the cell cycle; instead, they often disrupt this, so this is incorrect.

Answer:

A. Cancerous cells may form malignant tumors that invade and destroy surrounding healthy tissue.
B. Mutated, defective genes may cause cells not to be able to respond to signals that regulate the cell cycle and thereby their growth.
C. As a result of unregulated cell cycles, cells may become cancerous, meaning that the cells grow and divide uncontrollably.