Cancer and Cell Mutation
Author: John Published Under: Health
Cancer is caused when cells in the body mutate and replicate, which can be traced back to a single cell. When this happens, the cells properties are greatly changed, removing many of the safeguards found in a normal healthy cell.
Genes and Cell Mutation
Each cell in the body is embedded with genes, which tell the cell what it is and how to do its job. These genes tell the cells how to create proteins, which are the building blocks of cells. When a cells gene is damaged or lost, it causes the cell to mutate. This could be caused by a carcinogen, which damages the cell, such as cigarette smoke.
There are three basic genes that cause a cell to become cancerous. These genes either encourages the cells to multiply, prohibit the cells from multiplying, or repair damaged genes.
- Oncogenes: Oncogenes are genes that stimulate the other cells to multiply. In a healthy cell, multiplication only occurs when the cell dies or becomes damaged. However, if the gene is damaged, it will begin to continually multiply. Genes that cause the cells to continually multiply are called oncogenes.
- Tumor Suppressor Genes: In the body, there are some genes that work to stop cells from doubling. They work sort of like brakes when compared to oncogenes. When these genes encounter a damaged cell, they can cause it to kill itself, preventing it from replicating the mutated gene. If these genes become damaged or mutated, it is like the brake lines have been cut, with the cell continually multiplying.
- Damage Control Genes: There are also a number of genes that are intended to repair damage to the DNA that is found in a cell. When these genes themselves become damaged, they loose the ability to police the other genes and repair them.
How Cell Mutation Occurs
In many cases, mutations happen by accident. Cells in the body are constantly dividing and doubling, so if something happens during this time, it is possible that the gene could mutate. However, there are a number of safeguards in place to prevent this from happening. In many cases, the cell will self destruct rather than replicate a mutated gene or DNA sequence. In other cases, the bodies immune system will detect the abnormal cell structure and destroy it.
The safeguards do not always work though, so sometimes cells that have been damaged during replication slip by. When this happens, they continue to replicate, eventually causing the mutated cells to grow exponentially. This can take a long time to occur, which is why cancer is more common in the elderly.