Cancer and Genetic Engineering

Cancer

Definition: Cells that divide uncontrollably and form masses of abnormal cells that invade normal tissue

Healthy Cell vs. Cancer Cell Healthy Cell CANNOT grow indefinitely UNABLE to invade tissues that are not their own Cancer Cell CAN grow indefinitely ABLE to invade tissues that are not their own

Colon Cancer

Oral Cancer

Liver Cancer

What Controls Healthy Cell Growth? CYCLINS

Cyclins Definition: regulate the timing of the cell cycle Two Types of Cyclins: 1) Internal Regulators 2) External Regulators

Internal Regulators Definition: Allows the cell to enter each stage of mitosis only after the prior stage has been completed properly Example: Cell would be unable to enter prophase if it did not duplicate its DNA in interphase

External Regulators Definition: Directs cells to speed up or slow down the cell's cycle Example: When you get a paper cut the cells are directed to seal the wound as quickly as possible. As the cut is sealing the rate of healing slows down.

Common Risk Factors for Cancer 1) Old age 2) Environmental conditions 3) Viruses and bacteria 4) Hormones 5) Family history 6) Poor diet/lack of physical activity

Cancer Categories 1) Carcinoma 2) Sarcoma 3) Leukemia 4) Lymphoma and Myeloma 5) Central Nervous System

Carcinoma Cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs

Sarcoma Cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels or other connective or supportive tissue

Leukemia Cancer that starts in blood forming tissue

Lymphoma and Myeloma Cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system

Central Nervous System Cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord

Common Cancer Terminology Malignant Tumors are CANCEROUS, excessive growth of abnormal cells in one area Benign Tumors are NOT cancerous, excessive growth of normal cells in one area

Common Cancer Terminology Continued Metastasis spread of a tumor to a new part of the body via the bloodstream or lymph nodes

How Cancer is Named Named after the organ or type of cell the abnormal growth begins in Ex: Breast cancer that has metastasized to the liver is still called breast cancer

Stages of Cancer Stage 0 Cancer cells only present in the layer of cells in which it began Stage I, II, III The higher the number the more extensive the cancer is, the greater the tumor size, the more likely it has spread to near by lymph nodes or organs

Stages of Cancer Continued Stage IV Cancer spread to another organ

Common Cancer Treatments 1) Surgery 2) Radiotherapy 3) Chemotherapy

Surgery Removing malignant tumors

Radiotherapy Use of radiation (gamma rays) on cancerous areas Side Effects: Fatigue Diarrhea Dryness/redness to skin Vomiting Possible infertility Loss of appetite

Radiotherapy Clip rRc

Chemotherapy Medications that target cancer cells trying to replicate during the S phase. Normal cells can be destroyed as well. Side Effects: Hair loss Possible infertility Skin rashes Nausea Diarrhea Fatigue Vomiting

Chemotherapy Clip PIkc

Genetic Engineering

Cloning Definition: Creation of an organism that is an EXACT genetic copy of another

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer 1) A somatic cell is taken from a donor and is used as the source of genetic material for the cloned animal 2) An egg is taken from a female donor and the nucleus is removed

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer 3) The somatic cell and egg cell without the nucleus are fused together by an electric shock

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer 4) The fused cell is grown into an embryo and implanted into a female

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer 5) A cloned animal is made (is identical to the donor of the somatic cell)