Cancer

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Cell Cycle Noun

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[sel sy-kuhl]

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Cell Cycle

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The ordered series of events that a cell passes through as it grows and divides into two daughter cells.

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Example: This diagram shows the cell cycle, the series of events a cell goes through to grow and divide. Uncontrolled division in this cycle can lead to cancer.

Front

Mitosis Noun

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[my-toh-sis]

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Mitosis

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A type of cell division resulting in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes.

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Example: This diagram shows how one 'mother cell' replicates its DNA and divides to form two identical 'daughter cells,' the process of mitosis.

Front

Cyclins Noun

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[sy-klins]

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Cyclins

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A family of proteins that control the progression of a cell through the cell cycle by activating specific enzymes.

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Example: This graph shows that different types of cyclins increase in concentration at specific times to push a cell through the different phases of its division cycle.

Front

p53 Noun

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[pee fif-tee-three]

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p53

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A tumor suppressor protein that regulates cell division by halting the cell cycle when DNA damage is detected.

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Example: This image shows the p53 protein (blue), a tumor suppressor, wrapping around and binding to a strand of DNA (purple) to control cell growth.

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Checkpoint Noun

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[chek-point]

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Checkpoint

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A critical control point in the cell cycle where stop and go-ahead signals can regulate the cellular process.

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Example: This diagram shows the cell cycle with checkpoints, which are control points that stop cell division if errors are found, helping to prevent cancer.

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Apoptosis Noun

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[ap-uhp-toh-sis]

Back

Apoptosis

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A highly regulated process of programmed cell death that occurs as a normal part of an organism's growth.

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Example: This diagram shows the steps of apoptosis, or programmed cell death, where a cell shrinks, breaks apart, and is cleaned up in an orderly way.

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Cancer Noun

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[kan-ser]

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Cancer

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A disease characterized by the uncontrolled division of abnormal cells that can invade and destroy normal body tissue.

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Example: This diagram compares a normal cell with a cancer cell. It shows that when a normal cell has unfixable DNA damage, it self-destructs (apoptosis), while a cancer cell with the same damage continues to divide uncontrollably.

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Tumor Noun

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[too-mer]

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Tumor

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An abnormal mass of tissue that forms when cells grow and divide more than they should or do not die.

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Example: This diagram shows how a normal cell undergoes changes and divides uncontrollably to form a mass of cancer cells, which is a malignant tumor.

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G1 Phase Noun

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[jee-wun fayz]

Back

G1 Phase

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The first of four phases of the cell cycle, where the cell grows in size and synthesizes necessary proteins.

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Example: This diagram shows the cell cycle. The G1 phase is the first period of cell growth, a key step that is dysregulated in cancer, leading to uncontrolled division.

Front

S Phase Noun

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[ess fayz]

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S Phase

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The synthesis phase of the cell cycle, occurring between G1 and G2, during which the cell's DNA is replicated.

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Example: During S phase, a cell's DNA unwinds to make two exact copies, ensuring each new cell gets a complete set of genetic instructions.