Question

a patient is diagnosed with skin cancer. the doctor explains that the cancer cells are dividing uncontrollably because they are not responding to the normal cell cycle checkpoints. 1. explain how the failure of cell cycle regulation leads to cancer. 2. predict what would happen to healthy tissue nearby if the cancer cells keep dividing unchecked.

Explanation:

1. The cell cycle has checkpoints that control cell division. When these are faulty due to gene mutations, cells divide uncontrollably, forming tumors which can become cancerous.
2. Cancer cells growing unchecked can invade and damage nearby healthy tissues, disrupt their normal function, and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.

Answer:

1. The cell - cycle checkpoints ensure proper cell division. Mutations in genes regulating these checkpoints cause uncontrolled cell division, leading to tumor formation and cancer.
2. Healthy nearby tissues may be invaded, damaged, and have their normal function disrupted. Cancer cells may also metastasize to other areas.