Gene Mutations and Cancer

Gene mutations are changes in the base sequence of DNA. There are two main types:

1. Substitution: Replacing one base with another
2. Insertion/Deletion: Adding or removing a base

Example: A substitution mutation can be silent (no change in amino acid), mis-sense (different amino acid), or non-sense (premature stop codon).

Cancer is the formation of a malignant tumor due to uncontrolled cell division (mitosis). Malignant tumors differ from benign tumors in several ways:

• Rapid growth
• Unspecialized cells
• Ability to spread (metastasis)
• Systemic effects
• Require aggressive treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy)

Highlight: Cell division is normally controlled by two genes: proto-oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes.

Proto-oncogenes stimulate cell division by producing growth factors and receptor proteins, while tumor-suppressor genes inhibit cell division. Mutations in these genes can lead to cancer development.

Vocabulary: Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the primary tumor to other parts of the body.

Epigenetic Regulation of Gene Expression

This page would likely delve deeper into the mechanisms of epigenetic regulation of gene expression. It might discuss various epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromatin remodeling.

Vocabulary: Epigenetic modifications are chemical changes to DNA or associated proteins that can alter gene expression without changing the DNA sequence.

The page could provide examples of epigenetics in humans, such as how environmental factors can influence gene expression and potentially lead to disease. It might also discuss how epigenetic changes can be inherited across generations.

Example: Exposure to certain chemicals during pregnancy can lead to epigenetic changes in the developing fetus, potentially affecting health outcomes later in life.

The page might explore what can affect epigenetic molecules that regulate gene expression, including diet, stress, and environmental toxins. It could also discuss how epigenetic changes can be reversible, opening up possibilities for new therapeutic approaches.

Highlight: Understanding epigenetic regulation is crucial for developing new treatments for diseases like cancer, where abnormal gene expression plays a key role.