1 Does the amount of cyclin dependent kinase change over the course of the cell cycle?
2. Betsy had retinoblastoma as a child, but she is now fully recovered. Her father also had retinoblastoma, but her mother did not. Her husband Tony also had retinoblastoma as a child; his mother had retinoblastoma, but his father did not. If Betsy has a child with Tony, what is the probability (in %) that she will have a child that does not suffer from retinoblastoma?
3. Is a checkpoint more like a stop light or a toll booth? Explain your answer.
4. When a cell determines that it has received substantial damage that cannot be repaired, the appropriate action is to induce cell suicide. The scientific name for controlled cell death is:
5. Is every single cell in a tumor genetically identical to each other? Why do you think this?
6. Where is the most likely place to find metastatic tumors from colon cancer?
7. We have read about examples of viruses which cause cancer by carrying an activated oncogene into a cell. However, no cancer-causing viruses have been found that carry tumor suppressor genes. Why is this?
8. A drug has been developed that inhibits the ability of cells to produce vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). How might this be an effective cancer chemotherapeutic?
9. The following steps are involved in tumor formation.
Put them in correct order.
- 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
a tumor is formed
- 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
proto-oncogenes subjected to chemical mutagen
- 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
proto-oncogene becomes mutated
- 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
oncogene produces abnormal proteins
- 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
cell divides in an inappropriate manner
10. What is the normal function of the BRCA1 gene?