Answer:
Step-by-step explanation:
Checkpoints play an important role in the onset of cancer. They are regulatory mechanisms within cells that help ensure proper progression through the cell cycle and prevent the formation of cancerous cells. The checkpoints are responsible for monitoring cell growth and division and ensuring that DNA damage is repaired before the cell continues to divide. If these checkpoints fail, the cell can continue to divide with mutations and other genetic abnormalities that can eventually lead to cancer.
There are two main checkpoints in the cell cycle: the G1 checkpoint and the G2 checkpoint. The G1 checkpoint determines if a cell is ready to enter the next phase of the cell cycle, while the G2 checkpoint monitors DNA damage and checks for errors before the cell can undergo mitosis. If either checkpoint fails, the cell may proceed with division despite having genetic mutations that can increase the risk of cancer.
In addition to these checkpoints, there is also a third checkpoint, the M checkpoint, which monitors the progress of chromosomes during cell division to ensure that each daughter cell receives an accurate copy of the chromosomes. If the M checkpoint fails, it can result in the formation of aneuploid cells, which are cells with an abnormal number of chromosomes. Aneuploidy is a hallmark of cancer and is associated with a high risk of developing malignant tumors.
In conclusion, the role of checkpoints in the onset of cancer is critical as they help prevent the formation of cancerous cells by monitoring cell growth, division, and DNA damage. The failure of checkpoints can lead to the formation of mutated cells that are more likely to develop into cancer.