Final answer:
Cancer critical mutations fall into two main categories: oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Oncogenes contribute to cancer when they are overexpressed or mutated to have novel functions, while tumor suppressor genes, when disabled, lose their ability to prevent uncontrolled cell growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The critical mutations that lead to cancer can be categorized into two primary types: oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Oncogenes are genes that, when mutated or expressed at high levels, promote the transformation of normal cells into cancerous cells. On the other hand, tumor suppressor genes are those that normally function to inhibit cell division and prevent tumors; when these genes are disabled or mutated, they are unable to perform their protective role, thus facilitating uncontrolled cell growth and the development of cancer.
Each of these gene categories plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis. When these genetic mechanisms fail through mutations, the result can be the unregulated growth of cells leading to the formation of tumors and the progression to cancer.
Gene expression changes at the core of cancer development can lead normal cells on the path to becoming cancerous. The process of carcinogenesis typically requires multiple genetic mutations over time, with these mutations often occurring in both oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. It is a combination of the activation of oncogenes and the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes that contributes to a cell's transformation into a cancerous state. With this information, it becomes clear that the correct answer to the student's question is b) Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressors.