1. Cancer Cells
Packet # 17
Thursday, January 17, 2019

2. Introduction Tumors occur when cells continue to divide non-stop.
These cells that divide non-stop are cancer cells.
Cells are designed with mechanisms to them from continually dividing (i.e. during the cell cycle.)
They stop dividing when the replicated DNA is not correct.
Destruction of these defective cells is accomplished via apoptosis.
Thursday, January 17, 2019

3. Apoptosis Programmed cell death
Cell shrinks and condenses
Nuclear envelope disassembles
Nuclear DNA is broken up into fragments
Two mechanisms for carrying out apoptosis will be discussed
Suicide genes
Lysosomes
Apoptosis
“Suicide” genes
Lysosomes
Accomplished via
Page 586
Thursday, January 17, 2019

4. “Suicide” Genes
Proliferation genes (gas) are genes that promote cell division
Anti-proliferation genes (brakes) are genes that stop cell division in the event errors within DNA strands are found.
If there is a mutation in the either the proliferation genes or anti- proliferation genes, the cells divide non-stop and form a tumor which could become cancerous.
More on mutations later.
More to come in AP Biology
Thursday, January 17, 2019

5. Lysosome
The lysosome contains digestive enzymes that can be used to destroy the entire cell when it is called upon.
When activated, the entire cell is destroyed.
Possibly activated by anti- proliferation genes.
Thursday, January 17, 2019

6. What If…
Thursday, January 17, 2019

7. What If?
If the cell’s machinery bypasses the genes, and the lysosome, the last available option to destroy cancer cells is via the Immune System.
White blood cells
These cells are capable of recognizing cells that have become tumorous and that are multiplying out of control.
Thursday, January 17, 2019

8. Review
Thursday, January 17, 2019

9. Review 1 & 2 Apoptosis Accomplished via “Suicide” genes Lysosomes
**White Blood Cells
Thursday, January 17, 2019