When cell cycle control goes wrong, it can cause big problems for our bodies.
The cell cycle is like a set of traffic lights that tells cells when to grow and divide. There are special checkpoints that check if the cells are ready to go. If something goes wrong in this system, cells can start to divide without stopping, which can lead to diseases like cancer.
Here are some key problems that can happen:
Uncontrolled Growth: If cells ignore the checkpoints, they might start dividing too soon. This can lead to tumors, which are lumps made of extra cells.
Genetic Mutations: Sometimes, when cells copy their DNA, mistakes can happen. If these mistakes aren’t fixed, they can create damaged cells that keep growing.
Loss of Functionality: Abnormal cells can mess up how normal tissues work. This affects organs. For example, cancer cells can invade nearby areas and spread to other parts of the body.
Example: In breast cancer, certain gene changes, like those in BRCA1 or BRCA2, can break the control over the cell cycle. This increases the chance of cells growing out of control.
Think of it like a traffic light. If the green light stays on and never turns red, cars (or cells) will keep going without stopping, causing chaos on the road!
When cell cycle control goes wrong, it can cause big problems for our bodies.
The cell cycle is like a set of traffic lights that tells cells when to grow and divide. There are special checkpoints that check if the cells are ready to go. If something goes wrong in this system, cells can start to divide without stopping, which can lead to diseases like cancer.
Here are some key problems that can happen:
Uncontrolled Growth: If cells ignore the checkpoints, they might start dividing too soon. This can lead to tumors, which are lumps made of extra cells.
Genetic Mutations: Sometimes, when cells copy their DNA, mistakes can happen. If these mistakes aren’t fixed, they can create damaged cells that keep growing.
Loss of Functionality: Abnormal cells can mess up how normal tissues work. This affects organs. For example, cancer cells can invade nearby areas and spread to other parts of the body.
Example: In breast cancer, certain gene changes, like those in BRCA1 or BRCA2, can break the control over the cell cycle. This increases the chance of cells growing out of control.
Think of it like a traffic light. If the green light stays on and never turns red, cars (or cells) will keep going without stopping, causing chaos on the road!