Question

Mitosis is a process used for normal growth and development. Explain how and why a mutation in a BRCA gene may affect the cell cycle and the rate of mitosis and result in tumors.

Answer 1

The BRCA gene is a tumor-suppressor gene found in the breast; to be more specific, it produces proteins that suppress cancerous activities/abnormal growth in the body. A mutation in a BRCA gene would allow these abnormal growth activities to go unchecked and thus increase the rate of mitosis. Cell cycle checkpoints would significantly be worse at their jobs of checking and correcting for errors during the cell cycle. Tumors would result as well, as cancerous growth continues, and the tumor can become metastatic.