Question

A routine colonoscopy detects a small colorectal polyp on the colon wall that has not reached adenoma status. Which of the following genes would you most likely predict to be mutated at this stage? OA. p53 B. ras ? ???? D. antimetastasis gene

Answer 1

The gene most likely to be mutated at the early stage of a small colorectal polyp detected during a routine colonoscopy is the ras gene.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a routine colonoscopy that detects a small colorectal polyp that has not reached adenoma status, the gene most likely to be mutated at this early stage is B. ras. The ras gene is commonly associated with early-stage tumors. At this point in polyp development, mutations in the ras gene can lead to abnormal cell growth and division, which may eventually result in the formation of an adenoma and potentially progress to cancer if not addressed. Mutation of the p53 gene, while common in cancer cells, tends to occur at a later stage in the development of colorectal cancer when the tumors are at a more advanced stage. Thus, mutations in the p53 gene are less likely to be found in early-stage polyps that have not yet developed into adenomas.