Question

There are checkpoints in the cell cycle that regulate how often a cell undergoes mitosis to make a new cell. If these checkpoints are damaged, the cell can divide over and over without stopping, forming tumors. This is a disease called ________?

1) Cancer
2) Diabetes
3) Asthma
4) HIV/AIDS

Answer 1

The disease caused by damaged cell cycle checkpoints resulting in uncontrolled cell division and tumor formation is known as cancer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The disease that arises when checkpoints in the cell cycle are damaged, allowing the cell to divide without stopping and form tumors, is called cancer. The checkpoints serve to accurately regulate the process of cell division. For instance, the p53 protein is a significant regulator of one of these checkpoints and works to either repair or destroy cells with damaged DNA, preventing the formation of tumors

. However, if a mutation occurs in the p53 gene, the p53 protein may become faulty and fail to stop division even in cells with damaged DNA, leading to uncontrolled cell division, tumor formation, and the progression of cancer.