Question

Geneticists have detected a p53 gene mutation in a patient. This mutation inhibits damaged cells from being destroyed during the cell cycle. This mutation would increase the likelihood of which condition?

1) Cancer
2) Heart disease
3) Diabetes
4) Obesity

Answer 1

A mutation in the p53 gene that prevents the destruction of damaged cells during the cell cycle significantly increases the risk of cancer, as it allows cells with DNA damage to divide and proliferate, potentially leading to tumor formation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The mutation in the p53 gene that inhibits damaged cells from being destroyed during the cell cycle would increase the likelihood of cancer. The p53 protein is crucial for controlling the cell cycle and ensuring that cells with DNA damage either undergo repair or apoptosis before they can divide and pass on mutations. A malfunction in p53 allows damaged cells to proliferate, leading to tumor growth.

The p53 gene, often referred to as the "guardian of the genome," helps to maintain the stability of an organism's genetic information. When functioning properly, p53 protein can halt the cell cycle for DNA repair, activate repair genes, or initiate cell death if damage is beyond repair. However, a mutated p53 gene results in a non-functional protein that fails to prevent the division of cells with damaged DNA, which consequently increases the risk of cancer due to the accumulation of genetic mutations.