Question

What defect in cellular proliferation is involved in the development of cancer?

1) a rate of cell proliferation that is more rapid than that of normal body cells
2) shortened phases of cell life cycles with occasional skipping of GI or S phases
3) rearrangement of stem cell RNA that causes abnormal cellular protein synthesis
4) indiscriminate and continuous proliferation of cells with loss of contact inhibition

Answer 1

Cancer involves the loss of contact inhibition and unregulated cell division due to DNA damage, leading to rapid cell proliferation and the formation of tumors.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cancer is a multifaceted disease characterized by the unregulated proliferation of cells. The defect in cellular proliferation involved in the development of cancer includes indiscriminate and continuous proliferation of cells with a loss of contact inhibition. This loss of control in the cell cycle can occur due to DNA damage, resulting from exposure to environmental hazards like radiation or toxic chemicals, or from inherited genetic abnormalities. The resultant mutations in the genes that regulate the cell cycle cause affected cells to divide rapidly and form a mass of abnormal cells known as a tumor.

The fundamental problem in cancer is the breakdown of mechanisms that regulate the cell cycle. Normal cells undergo a regulated process of growth, DNA replication, and division, but cancerous cells ignore these regulations, leading to unchecked cell division and the potential for invasive growth that damages tissues and can lead to death.