A gene that is involved in a normal cellular process but when mutated contributes to cancer...
Question:
A gene that is involved in a normal cellular process but when mutated contributes to cancer development is:
A. a proto-oncogene.
B. a housekeeping gene.
Cancer
Cancer occurs when cell growth is uncontrolled and cell death is inhibited. It usually arises from an interplay of genetics and external factors such as physical, chemical, and biological carcinogens. Some risk factors for cancer are smoking, being overweight or obese, and an unhealthy diet and lifestyle. The most aggressive cancers include brain and pancreatic cancers whereas cancers with the best prognosis are melanoma, testicular cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, breast cancer, and others.
Answer and Explanation: 1
Become a Study.com member to unlock this answer! Create your account
View this answerA. A proto-oncogene is a gene that is involved in a normal cellular process but when mutated contributes to cancer development. These genes carry...
See full answer below.
Ask a question
Our experts can answer your tough homework and study questions.
Ask a question Ask a questionSearch Answers
Learn more about this topic:
from
Chapter 3 / Lesson 4Cancer can be caused by genetic factors, where a cell's genome, or DNA, grows differently than it would normally. Explore the features of genetics in this process through proto-oncogenes, mutation and tumor suppressor genes like the famous p53 gene.
Related to this Question
- Oncogenes are genes that a. the virus utilizes to replicate itself. b. promote genetic recombination in bacteria. c. influence ongoing protein production. d. transform normal cells into cancer cells.
- Oncogenes are genes that a. the virus utilizes to replicate itself. b. transform normal cells to cancer cells. c. promote genetic recombination in bacteria. d. influence ongoing protein production.
- Oncogenes are genes that: a. the virus utilizes to replicate itself. b. transform normal cells into cancer cells. c. promote genetic recombination in bacteria. d. influence ongoing protein production.
- If there is DNA damage, _____ a) the TP 53 gene will be altered, thus causing abnormal phosphorylation of the RB protein. b) the TP 53 gene will cause abnormal cell reproduction (cancer). c) the TP 53 gene will detect it and ultimately stop the process of
- A mutation in a gene coding for the p53 protein prevents the protein from functioning normally. What is most likely to occur as a result of this mutation? a) Growth and replication of damaged cells b) Apoptosis c) Normal cells will undergo additional muta
- Assuming that the mutation leading to an abnormal dynein molecule is instead on a gene other than the one coding directly for dynein. The mutated gene would then be a gene which codes for a protein involved in controlling some aspect of the process of tra
- What is an oncogene? A. A gene associated with tumor formation when its product does not function. B. A gene associated with tumor formation when it is inappropriately activated. C. A gene that inhibits cell growth when its product functions normally. D.
- Rb (Retinoblastoma) Is a tumor suppressor Gene which helps to prevent the transformation of a normal cell into a cancer cell. Rb acts by preventing the replication of damaged DNA preventing the proliferation of cancerous cells. At which checkpoint in the
- Assume that the mutation leading to abnormal dynein molecule is instead on a gene other than the one coding directly for dynein. The mutated gene would then be a gene which codes for a protein involved in controlling some aspect of the process of transcri
- Mutations in our DNA rarely impair normal cell function because: a. repair of DNA prevents all mutations from ever causing damage to a cell. b. damaged cells will commit "suicide" to prevent damage to the body. c. cells have one major repair enzyme that c
- Mutagenesis of cells using radiation or a chemical intercalating agent could be used to create _______ mutations in a region of DNA. (a) random (b) both random and site-specific (c) site-specific.
- A mutation of the Ras gene is often associated with many cancers because: A. It forces the cells into G0 of the cell cycle B. It blocks the action of GPCR proteins C. The Ras protein ID's telomerase and so protects the cancer cell DNA D. Their GTPase fu
- How does a normal cell become a cancerous cell? What is the role of telomerase? Explain the connection between telomerase activity and cancer. How does the BCR-ABL mutation arise? Describe the relatio
- Which of the following options is correct? Oncogenes are genes that a. the virus utilizes to replicate itself. b. transform normal cells into cancer cells. c. promote genetic recombination in bacteria. d. influence ongoing protein production.
- The CFTR, which is dysfunctional in cystic fibrosis patients, is a plasma membrane protein. However, cancer can be caused by a mutation in the gene for p53, which is a transcription factor found in the cell nucleus. Some cancers form because the p53 prote
- Tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes are implicated in carcinogenesis. However, one can predict whether a gene potentially encodes for a protein that influences carcinogenesis by examining their mutational profile. You sequence the genome of 4 cancers and
- Which of the following is a vector that can be used in gene therapy to deliver normal genes directly into the cells of the body? a. transposons b. viruses c. amniocentesis d. mutagens
- A mutation in the part of the genome that does not code for protein is found to increase the risk of cancer. This one mutation also increases the expression of a hundred genes. What is the most likely function of the region of the DNA that is altered by t
- The protein produced by Huntington s disease (huntingtin) interferes with general transcription factor (called CBP) and prevents it from binding the promoter. CBP activates genes involved in cell survival. a) Which step in gene expression is huntingtin pr
- Which one of the following statements correctly describes an oncogene? (a) A gene that codes for proteins that helps inhibit tumor growth and formation. (b) A mutated gene whose protein product is produced in increased quantities or has increased activity
- A DNA damage that is not correct during the replication process can activate "oncogenes" that may progress to cancer. Discuss the normal DNA replication process, and explain how an uncorrected error would be passed to daughter cells.
- When DNA does not provide instructions for assembling a protein properly: a. an abnormal polypeptide forms b. a genetic defect can occur c. an inherited disease can result d. all of these are correct
- Radiation therapy is sometimes used as a treatment for cancer. Radiation causes severe DNA damage and affects rapidly dividing cells more than other cells. About half of all cancers have a mutant p53 gene. Why would mutations in p53 make radiation unable
- About 20% of colorectal cancers have mutations in the B-Raf gene, which is a serine/threonine kinase, which mediates cellular response to growth signals. Raf is activated when a phosphate is added to Thr 598 and Ser 601. The mutation in B-Raf found in can
- Which of the following is not associated with carcinogenesis? a. mutation b. normal p53 function c. Ras activation d. inhibition of apoptosis e. DNA repair failure
- Protein X strongly binds a DNA region 5', or upstream, of the promoter of gene W. Gene W is expressed when compound L is in the growth media. A nonsense mutation occurs in the 5' end of the gene ORF encoding protein X.
- A cancerous cell may have which of the following characteristics? - Tumor suppressor genes are mutated. - Proto-oncogenes are mutated. - The enzyme telomerase is active. - It no longer looks like the tissue from which it originally came. - all of the
- Explain what process might be disrupted, if the DNA were damaged and how this would affect the growth of a cancer cell.
- Which event may lead to cancer? a) gene mutation b) functioning p53 protein c) Rb protein phosphorylating d) Improper replication of DNA during synthesis e) faulty DNA repair.
- If a transcription factor causes more frequent gene expression of gene A in one cell, what do you expect to happen in the cell? A). an increase in the amount of mRNA for gene A in that cell only. B). an increase in the number of ribosomes in the cell.
- If a transcription factor causes more frequent gene expression of gene A in one cell, what do you expect to happen in the cell? A. an increase in the amount of mRNA for gene A in that cell only. B. an increase in the number of ribosomes in the cell. C. an
- A mutation occurs in a highly conserved area of the genome that is 5' to the start of transcription of a gene. You predict that a) this mutation will alter the structure of the protein encoded by the gene. b) this mutation will be rapidly eliminated from
- Gene X has a point mutation resulting in a premature stop codon in the mRNA. Imagine one cell line with this mutant was wild type (for all non-Gene X genes) while another had a mutation in the nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) pathway in addition to the Gene
- What are at least 2 genes mutated in colon cancer? And what are the functions of the protein encoded with those genes?
- The protein produced by Huntington's disease (huntingtin) interferes with general transcription factor (called CBP) and prevents it from binding the promoter. CBP activates genes involved in cell survival. Which step in gene expression is huntington preve
- Genes A, B, and C are three structural genes of an operon and fall in that order within the operon. A mutation occurs in Gene A that halts transcription early in the gene. What effect will this have on the levels of proteins produced by the genes A, B, an
- Genes A, B, and C are three structural genes of an operon and fall in that order within the operon. A mutation occurs in Gene A that halts transcription early in the gene. What effect will this have on the levels of proteins produced by Genes A, B, and C?
- Are DNA repair enzyme disorders (like Cockayne Syndrome) normal models of accelerated aging?
- A non-transducing retrovirus induces tumor formation by (select one)? a. Activates expression of tumor suppressor gene b. Represses activation of cellular proto-oncogene c. Virus integrates near proto-oncogene and increases its expression d. Virus carries
- In chronic myelogenous leukemia, an exchange between two nonhomologous chromosomes fuses two genes. Expression of the fused gene increases the rate of synthesis of tyrosine kinase, which lifts control of the cell cycle. How might RNA interference be used
- How might the transduction process increase the genetic variation of a virus? a. if some of the host ribosomes create viral gene mutations b. if some of the host-cell DNA is encapsulated with viral genetic material during viral replication c. if the vi
- How do retroviruses contribute to the development of cancer cells? a. They activate all types of cell regulation simultaneously. b. They shut off all types of cell regulation simultaneously. c. If they insert themselves into regulatory genes and disrupt t
- Which type of gene therapy involves genetic modification of gametes or embryos? A. Germline gene therapy B. Somatic cell gene therapy C. Ex vivo gene therapy D. Cancer gene therapy
- The Ras protein is normally involved in signal transduction pathways in the cell that result in cell growth and differentiation. Forty percent of human cancers involve a mutation in the Ras protein. The gene that codes for the Ras protein is an example of
- A mutated eukaryotic cell contains a mutation in the middle of an exon in gene Q on a single allele. What will be the most likely result of this mutation? A. The amount of transcription of gene Q would be greater than normal. B. The mRNA produced from g
- Gene mutation takes place in (A) Deoxyribonucleic acid (B) Chloroplast (C) Mitochondrion (D) Ribosome
- Operons enable bacteria to? a.) increase genetic diversity b.) methylate DNA moleotides c.) replicate DNA d.) regulate gene expression
- What are oncogenes? a) specific genes that encode for a protein b) mutated variants of genes that code for cell division c) tumor suppressor genes.
- Genes A, B, and C are three structural genes of an operon and fall in that order within the operon. A mutation occurs in Gene A that halts transcription early in the gene. What effect will this have on the levels of proteins made by Genes A, B, and C? a.
- Cancer is generally caused by ____ in the genetic code. a. breaks b. mutations c. translation errors d. transcription errors.
- How does a mutation in DNA cause a disease that affects multiple organs? a. The mutated DNA is expressed and the mRNA takes the mutated information to other cells where the altered protein is made to cause disease in that organ. b. The mutated DNA is expr
- If DNA damage occurs early in G1 of the cell cycle, the tumor suppressor protein p53 A. activates the p21 gene which encodes a CDK inhibitor, thereby causing G1 arrest. B. promotes apoptosis. C. phosphorylates the retinoblastoma protein (pRB), thereby blo
- Mutations are changes in the DNA sequence of a cell. Describe two ways in which a mutation in the genome of a cell does not affect any cellular activity.
- The p53 gene A) Codes for a protein that can initiate apoptosis B) Codes for a protein that can initiate the repair of damaged DNA C) Is associated with many types of cancer (if mutated) D) All of the above E) None of the above
- Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) levels eventually dissipate, and the cellular response (gene transcription and translation) stops. Which of the following is not a possible reason for a cancer cell to have an inappropriate EGF pathway response? A) mutation i
- Which of the following types of genes are NOT involved in cancer? \\ A.oncogenes \\ B. proto-onco genes \\ C.tumor suppressor genes \\ D. telomerase \\ E. opsin genes
- You are studying which of the multiple steps in gene expression you could tweak in order to produce a normal version of the huntingtin protein despite having the allele with the mutation. Which step in gene expression would be the most promising?
- What causes genomic instability? a. A mutation in a cell-cycle checkpoint gene that results in multiple chromosomal rearrangements and aneuploidy b. A malfunction in the mitotic spindle checkpoint c. A mutation in a DNA repair gene that results in a defec
- You have purified a protein from a bacterium Y that causes cells in tissue culture to increase their cAMP levels. You subsequently cloned a fragment of DNA from bacterium Y that contained two ORFs, one of which you identified as the gene encoding the prot
- You isolate the gene for the SRP GEF in yeast and knock it out. Where would you predict a gene that is normally secreted would accumulate in the mutant strain? A. It would never be made. B. It would only be partially made and stuck to ribosomes. C. In the
- How is it that a mutation in DNA stored inside the nucleus of a cell can cause a disease affecting multiple organs? A This remains an unanswered question in science that scientists are still trying to figure out. B The mutated DNA is expressed in multipl
- How is it that a mutation in DNA stored inside the nucleus of a cell can cause a disease affecting multiple organs? A. This remains an unanswered question in science that scientists are still trying to figure out. B. The mutated DNA is expressed in mult
- If the coding region of a gene (the exons) contains 2,100 base pairs of DNA, would a missense mutation causes a protein to be shorter, longer, or the same length as the normal 700 amino acid proteins? What would be the effect of a nonsense mutation? What
- You are studying which of the multiple steps in gene expression you could tweak in order to produce a normal version of the huntingtin protein despite having the allele with the mutation. Which step i
- DNA microarray analysis reveals no expression of the pRB tumor suppressor gene in a bone cancer cell line. Would this be the only difference in expression pattern between normal and bone cancer cells? Why or why not?
- You are studying a line of Eukaryotic cells. The cells are perfectly normal and are dividing naturally. But you find that even when you add the required transcription factors for specific genes, you cannot get the cells to produce the proteins from those
- The key step in the generation of "safe" (replication-incompetent) viral particles for gene therapy is the A. creation of site-specific mutations in viral genes. B. provision of viral genes on a Y- (psi-) DNA. C. use of a packaging cell line that is not i
- A strain of Arabidopsis thaliana possesses a mutation in the APETALA2 gene, in which much of the 3' untranslated region of mRNA transcribed from the gene is deleted. What is the most likely effect of this mutation on the expression of the APETALA2 gene?
- Which type of gene therapy has not yet been tried in a clinic? A. Germline gene therapy B. Somatic cell gene therapy C. Ex vivo gene therapy D. Cancer gene therapy
- An organism with nonfunctioning telomerase: A. would be unaffected B. cannot replicate DNA or RNA C. would have shortened chromosomes earlier than normal cells D. would be unable to synthesize proteins E. would be unable to go through mitosis
- All of the following are characteristics of normal, healthy cells EXCEPT. A. Damage to DNA (genetic information) is usually repaired. B. Programmed cell death is triggered if too much DNA damage accumulates. C. The cells divide indefinitely. D. Cells are
- When cloning an organism by nuclear transfer A. there is random integration of a transgene into the recipient cell's nuclear genome. B. there is disruption or mutation of a targeted gene in the resulting organism. C. the resulting organism is genetically
- Gene therapy is a technique where healthy genetic code (DNA) is delivered to a person's cells to supplement the mutated DNA code that is causing illness. Explain how a faulty gene can cause illness in a person and how gene therapy could potentially help.
- Mutations that affect the binding of an SR protein to an exonic splicing enhancer can cause exon skipping in some genes, producing mRNAs that when translated yield nonfunctional proteins. In addition to an RNA-binding domain, SR proteins also contain an R
- Introns ______. (a) are frequently present in prokaryotic genes but are rare in eukaryotic genes (b) are spliced out before transcription (c) are translated but not transcribed (d) can occur many times within a single gene (e) encode unusual amino acids i
- A process in which recipient cells take up genes from DNA molecules floating free in the surrounding medium is called: a. conjugation b. specialized transduction c. generalized transduction d. transformation 3
- Protein products of which genes "put the brakes" on the cell cycle when DNA is damaged or incompletely copied? a. Checkpoint genes b. Breakpoint genes c. Proofreading genes d. DNA repair genes e. DNA reconstruction genes
- Protein products of which genes "put the brakes" on the cell cycle when DNA is damaged or incompletely copied? a. Breakpoint genes b. Checkpoint genes c. Proofreading genes d. DNA repair genes e. DNA reconstruction genes
- Why are frameshift mutations one of the most severe types of mutations? (a) More than one gene is affected (b) They cannot be reversed (c) More than one amino acid or the entire protein is affected (d) They occur only in gametes.
- Which of the following might be a mechanism through which chromosomal translocations (and other chromosomal rearrangements) contribute to cancer growth? a) By causing overexpression of DNA-damage repair genes. b) By breaking the coding region of a proto-o
- If a cell's DNA is damaged, the products of \rule{2cm}{0.4pt} genes interact to advance, delay, or stop the cell cycle. a) checkpoint b) master c) homeotic d) onco e) all of these
- A mutation has occurred in the promoter sequence of a gene. Briefly explain what effect that mutation will likely have on the transcription of the gene.
- How is DNA stored in the nucleus during normal cell operations (G1 phase)? Is it completely unspooled or condensed in some way?
- Cellular mutations occur in the: a. proteins. b. DNA. c. RNA. d. DNA and RNA. e. proteins, DNA, and RNA.
- An inactivating mutation in a protein involved in nucleotide excision repair may cause cells to: a. Pass mutations on to their daughter cells if they were proliferating b. Any of the above c. Undergo apoptosis d. Be arrested in G2 e. Be arrested in G1
- Spontaneous mutations may occur as a result of _______. (a) All of these (b) errors in DNA replication (c) transposition (d) None of these (e) normal cell biochemistry.
- Classify the following statement as describing proto-oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes: "Some products of these genes normally function in repairing damaged DNA."
- The function(s) of a DNA repair gene is studied by the subdivision of genetics called ______. (a) population genetics. (b) transmission genetics. (c) molecular genetics.
- Cigarette smoke contains a chemical that specifically mutates p53 and inactivates it. As a result of this mutation, what would happen in the affected cells? A. DNA damage would accumulate. B. Programmed cell death would not be activated. C. The cell cycle
- Some viruses have the ability to alter the host's genetic material, leading to cancer. Describe two ways retroviruses accomplish this.
- Outline the role that the ubiquitin degradation pathway plays in WNT signaling. Give two examples of DNA mutations that could affect targeting to this pathway and lead to the over proliferation of cells (i.e., the WNT pathway always being turned on).
- If a mutation damaged the enhancer regulatory element in a eukaryotic gene promoter, how would this affect the transcription of the gene? (a) The rate of transcription would be very low. (b) The transcriptional start site would be shifted. (c) The promot
- If mutation occurs causing transcription of a gene to occur on both strands of the DNA in the same cell, what affect would you expect that to have on the production of protein for the gene?
- What is a genetic mutation: A. Remove the intron from the gene-coding exon. B. change a DNA molecule C. are relatively common D. both A and C
- Which of the following is NOT a mechanism of oncogene activation: (a) Point mutations/deletions in gene coding regions. (b) Point mutations/deletions in gene regulatory regions. (c) Chromosomal translocations producing fusion genes/proteins. (d) Gene d
- Mutations are the original source of genetic variation. How can mutations accumulate in DNA, given that cells have repair systems that fix mispaired nucleotides or breaks in DNA strands?
- In generalized transduction, a bacterium obtains DNA from a virus as a result of a lytic cycle. The bacterium will a. survive. b. harbor a prophage. c. die immediately. d. reproduce for a few generations, until the prophage becomes virulent. e. contai
- The gene for sex pilus construction and the gene for tetracycline resistance are located together on the same plasmid within a particular bacterium. If this bacterium readily performs conjugation then the result should be: A) The spread of the tetracyclin
- Bacteria that have properties of both the donor and recipient cells are the result of a. UV light. b. SOS repair. c. frameshift mutations. d. genetic recombination.
- Prions cause disease when they a. enlarge. b. break into small pieces. c. cause normal proteins to change shape. d. interact with DNA.