Solved by a verified expert:Biology of Cancer- final examination Spring 2016 UMUC Dr. Harold Katcher
The final exam covers all aspects of the
course taught. In all cases you will use your own words: no quotes (and of
course no plagiarism)- I want to know your understanding. If information is from other sources than
your readings you must cite them but not quote them – all in your own words, or
that’s fifty percent gone on each question even if you quote the source.
1.
A chemical or physical agent
that causes cancer general operates to damage an organism’s______________
2.
The majority of cancer cases
are due to __________________.
3.
Do you agree with the
statement; organs and tissues normally manage somatic (body, non-sexual) tissue
homeostasis (keeping size and cell number the same) by having tissue cells undergoing
binary fission. Yes or no or neither, explain
4.
What is a gatekeeper
protein? Give two examples of how they
work, where they work and how their mutation might result in a particular
hallmark of cancer away to avoid or eliminate barriers to proliferation or
progression.
5.
Describe the path a growth
factor takes to make a normal cell undergo cell division?
6.
Loss of restriction point
control is a big factor in most cancers t/f
7.
It is found that with some
cancers there are no changes in the nucleotide sequences of affected genes, yet
the amount of the protein produced is wrong – too much or too little. One explanation
that would not be applicable to this case would be…
A.
a splicing change so that the
normal protein isn’t made in the same amount
B.
the cytosine residue of a
promotor has been methylated
C.
An epigenetic change in the
histone code surrounding the gene was made
D.
A change in a controlling DNA
other than the protein coding region was made
E.
All of the above are possible
8.
A DNA damage that changes one nucleotide to
another is not as dangerous as a damage that eliminates or adds a nucleotide to
a DNA sequence because
A.
Adding or subtracting
nucleotides means you have to break the DNA strand
B.
A single base addition or
elimination changes the entire protein from that point on
C.
A single addition or
elimination changes the reading frame
D.
Damage that changes one
nucleotide to another is not at all dangerous
E.
Both B, and C are the only true
statements
9.
Two alleles of a gene code for
exactly the same amino acid sequence and yet the produce different proteins:
explain how this can occur.
10.
RB prevent the cell from undergoing
______________ by binding to _________ which
is a transcription factor .
11.
The transcription factor to which RB bind
controls _______________. RB become
inactive when it is _________.
12.
The biggest single risk factor
for cancer is
A.
age
B.
environmental mutagens and
carcinogens
C.
sunlight
D.
tobacco
E.
all of the above are about
equal.
13.
True or False: Cancer occurs
more frequently in epithelial tissues than in connective tissues
14.
True or False: Many different
cancers often have mutations in the same
15.
Senescent cells
A.
Are normally smaller than
ordinary cells
B.
Are metabolically inactive
C.
Are removed from the cell cycle
D.
Are known to prevent cancers
from arising
E.
All of the above
16.
The most common mutation in cancer is a
mutation to the gene named _____
17.
The protein ubiquitin is
attached to other proteins by ubiquitin ligase in order to
______________________________________________________________.
18.
Some RNA viruses are able to insert their
genomes into host (human) cells by use of the enzyme
____________________________________________
19.
Many scientists believe that
telomere attrition is an anti-cancer mechanism used by the body to
________________ cell ____________________.
20.
VEGF receptors are stimulated
in order to allow or promote _________________ (one word).
21.
That people with the hereditary
diseases of ataxia telengectasia and Werner’s syndrome are prone to cancer is
an indication of the importance of _________________ to preventing cancer
22.
One cancer barrier innate
immune system helps to overcome is _______________________, because macrophage
secrete __________________.
23.
The phenomenon that allows
epithelial cells to become active and motile, giving them freedom from
anchorage independence is called __________________________.
24.
The epithelial to mesenchymal
transition called a ‘program’ and your texts calls it a process normally used
in embryogenesis and wound healing that is co-opted by a cancer cell. This ‘program’…
A.
Applies to all types of cancers
B.
Applies only to carcinomas
C.
Allows severely defective cells
to propagate
D.
Results from signals arising
from the cancer cells themselves
E.
All of the above
25.
-40. (worth fifteen points so I
expect a lot) You’ve inherited the gene-variant called the APC gene from your
father’s side of the family. Unbeknownst to you. You are now twenty-five by the
time you are fifty-five you will be diagnosed with full blown cancer that’s
metastasized to your – you will explain step by step (as shown in your
“Hallmarks” paper) now a cell (where? I want as normal a case as you care to
give but whatever you choose) – each evolutionary ‘advance’ of the cell at each
stage in the progression to a metastasized cancer each step, with an
appropriate gene mutation (which you will give) necessary to overcome and
signals (so gene A is defective allowing the cell to propagate though damaged –
might be step 2 or 3 (but you’ve got to name that gene – it has to make sense –
describe the obstacle and the solution at each step winding up in the lungs
(and trace the anatomical path and how it got there).
41. – 50.
(That’s ten points for you to be, “Scientist for a Day!” (or two)). You are a scientist assigned to work on curing
cancer – the particular lab you are in is involved with the Warburg Effect.
Explain what it is, why it is and come up with a target that you would like to
use in order to treat all cancers that show this effect (if only!). You must
come up with some target (a protein usually) and some way particular means to
precisely target and destroy (or enhance) it – you can make it up if it’s
logical even if it hasn’t been done – and promise to mention my class in your
Nobel prize acceptance speech.
51. – 55. Cancer
is a cell autonomous function (meaning it depends only on changes in the cancer
cell): agree or disagree, but give your
evidence.
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