There are many points during the cell cycle when the process of division may stop because of a problem. Sometimes the process doesn't stop. Summarize the function of apoptosis in the cell cycle.
to destroy damaged or old cells -----
When mutated cells ignore checkpoints, they reproduce uncontrollably, forming tumors. During which stage of the cell cycle does the cell divide into two cells?
M -----
Some cells ignore cell cycle checkpoints and continue to grow and divide uncontrollably despite cellular or genetic damage. What disease may directly result from such behavior?
cancer -----
Summarize the function of checkpoints in the cell cycle.
Checkpoints stop the cell cycle when errors are detected. -----
A cell contains DNA damage that causes it to undergo apoptosis before reaching mitosis. This cell had twice the amount of DNA for a cell of this type. During which checkpoint did this cell trigger apoptosis?
G2 Checkpoint -----
No question here either. Yikes.
Apoptosis is the process by which damaged or old cells are destroyed in the cell cycle.
The cell divides into two cells during the Mitosis stage.
Cancer may directly result from cells that ignore cell cycle checkpoints and continue to grow and divide uncontrollably despite cellular or genetic damage.
Checkpoints in the cell cycle act as control points that stop the cell cycle when errors or abnormalities are detected.
If a cell contains DNA damage and triggers apoptosis before reaching mitosis, it likely occurred at the G2 checkpoint.
To determine the checkpoint at which the cell triggered apoptosis, we need to understand the role of checkpoints in the cell cycle. Checkpoints are key regulatory points that monitor the integrity of the DNA and ensure that the cell proceeds accurately through the different stages of the cell cycle.
The G2 checkpoint, also known as the DNA damage checkpoint, is a crucial checkpoint that occurs after DNA replication during the S phase and before the cell enters the M phase (mitosis). Its primary function is to detect DNA damage or abnormalities and prevent the cell from progressing into mitosis until the damage is repaired.
In the scenario given, the cell had twice the amount of DNA for a cell of its type. This indicates that DNA replication occurred, but the cell detected DNA damage during the G2 checkpoint. As a response, the cell triggered apoptosis, which is a programmed cell death mechanism designed to eliminate cells with irreparable DNA damage or other critical defects. Therefore, it can be inferred that the cell triggered apoptosis at the G2 checkpoint due to the detected DNA damage.