Cancer

Mutations are a change in an organisms [blank_start]DNA[blank_end]. DNA mutations can result in a change in protein structure or not, these are referred to as non-[blank_start]synonymous[blank_end] and [blank_start]synonymous[blank_end] mutations respectively. Mutations can involve the [blank_start]substitution[blank_end] of one base for another, or the [blank_start]deletion[blank_end]/[blank_start]insertion[blank_end] of a base.

The reading frame of a piece of DNA determines which [blank_start]amino[blank_end] acids are assembled into a [blank_start]protein[blank_end] molecule. Insertions and deletions can cause [blank_start]frame[blank_end] shifts, [blank_start]changing[blank_end] the codons downstream of the mutation.

Mutations are responsible for over 4000 [blank_start]genetic[blank_end] diseases in humans. Some of these diseases stem from just a single [blank_start]nucleotide[blank_end] mutation. One example of this is in cystic [blank_start]fibrosis[blank_end], which is caused by mutation of the gene encoding the CFTR protein. One of the most well known genetic diseases worldwide is [blank_start]cancer[blank_end].

Cancer is caused by cells losing their ability to control cell [blank_start]division[blank_end], to undergo programmed cell [blank_start]death[blank_end] and many other hallmarks. Cancer progression occurs following a sequence of [blank_start]mutations[blank_end] in [blank_start]tumour[blank_end] [blank_start]suppressor[blank_end] [blank_start]genes[blank_end] and proto-[blank_start]oncogenes[blank_end].

Appropriately label the diagram below

The likely hood of cancer is increased if you are exposed to [blank_start]mutagens[blank_end]. This is because mutagens increase the [blank_start]mutation[blank_end] [blank_start]rate[blank_end] of your cells.