Mitosis & Cancer Station Activity
Please use the diagrams (with station numbers) at the end of this assignment to complete this activity.
Station #1
What happens to a normal cell when it becomes damaged?
What happens to a cancer cell when it becomes damaged?
Station #2
Look at the appearance of the normal cell compared to the cancer cell. How is the cancer cell different from the normal cell?
Station #3
Which tissue in the diagram shows cancerous cells?
How do you know this diagram shows cancerous cells?
Station #4
Look at the diagram of a cancer tumor. How do the cancer cells look different from the normal cells?
How do you think cancer cells receive nutrients?
How do the cancer cells spread to other areas of the body?
Station #5
Look at the diagram. The mutation is showing how cancer begins. What is the normal code for the amino acid?
What is the mutated code for the amino acid?
What problem does the mutated code cause?
Station #6
Cancer is caused by damaged DNA. There are a variety of things that can lead to damaged DNA (see chart). Which factor causes the most cancer cases per year?
Approximately how many cases of cancer are caused by UV radiation each year?
Station #7
According to the diagram, someone who sunbathes frequently would be
More likely to get skin cancer
Less likely to get skin cancer
15. How does UV light change DNA?
16. What happens to the cell as a result of that changed DNA?
Station #8
17. How is the cancerous stomach cell different from the normal stomach cell?
Link to the images:
docs.google.com/document/d/13x12XMXko7SEjJ1NLfoJ5syxRyc1uTxmEOn6KpGW9_w/edit
I'm sorry, but as an AI text-based model, I'm unable to access or view any external documents or images. However, I can provide you with some general explanations and guidance on answering the questions related to mitosis and cancer.
Station #1:
When a normal cell becomes damaged, it usually undergoes a process called apoptosis, which is programmed cell death. This is important for maintaining the overall health of the organism.
For cancer cells, damaged cells do not go through apoptosis due to abnormalities in the cell cycle control mechanisms. They tend to continue dividing and accumulating additional mutations, which can lead to the formation of tumors.
Station #2:
To compare the appearance of normal and cancer cells, you would need to refer to the diagrams provided. Look for characteristic differences in size, shape, organization, and overall appearance between the two types of cells.
Station #3:
The tissue that shows cancerous cells can be identified by examining the given diagram. Look for abnormal cell features such as uncontrolled growth, disorderly organization, and irregular cell shape. These are indicators of cancerous cells.
Station #4:
In the diagram of a cancer tumor, cancer cells may appear different from normal cells in terms of size, shape, and their arrangement within the tumor. Cancer cells often have larger nuclei, irregular shapes, and can invade surrounding tissues.
Cancer cells receive nutrients through the same mechanism as normal cells, by relying on blood vessels to deliver nutrients and oxygen.
Cancer cells can spread to other areas of the body through a process called metastasis. This occurs when cancer cells break away from the primary tumor site and travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to establish secondary tumors in distant organs.
Station #5:
In the provided diagram, the normal code for the amino acid can be found by comparing it to the reference genetic code. The mutated code for the amino acid can be determined by identifying the specific mutation noted in the diagram.
The mutated code causes a problem because it results in a change in the protein sequence, which can affect the function and structure of the protein. This disruption can have various effects depending on the specific protein and its role in cellular processes.
Station #6:
Factors that can cause damaged DNA and contribute to cancer include UV radiation, tobacco smoke, certain chemicals, radiation exposure, and inherited gene mutations.
The chart provided in the document may list the various factors and their associated estimated number of cancer cases per year. Identify the factor with the highest number of cancer cases per year.
To determine the approximate number of cases of cancer caused by UV radiation each year, refer to the chart and find the information related to UV radiation.
Station #7:
According to the diagram, someone who sunbathes frequently would be more likely to get skin cancer. UV light from the sun can damage the DNA within skin cells and increase the risk of cancer development.
UV light changes the DNA by causing alterations to the DNA sequence, such as forming thymine dimers. These DNA changes can disrupt normal cellular functions and lead to mutations.
As a result of the changed DNA, the affected cell may experience uncontrolled growth and division, which can contribute to the formation of a tumor and the development of cancer.
Station #8:
To compare the cancerous stomach cell with the normal stomach cell, examine the provided images. Look for differences in cell shape, size, organization, and any other abnormalities in the cancerous cell that are different from the characteristics of the normal cell.