Final answer:
Loss of function alterations in the p53 gene can make a cell more susceptible to cancer by allowing cell division despite damaged DNA and inhibiting cell death. Mutated p53 proteins fail to regulate the cell cycle and DNA repair, leading to the accumulation of mutations and abnormal cell growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The loss of function alterations in the p53 gene can make a cell more susceptible to cancer. The p53 protein, coded by the p53 gene, plays multiple roles in regulating the cell cycle and DNA repair. Normally, p53 proteins monitor DNA and trigger repair mechanisms or destroy cells with damaged DNA. However, mutations in p53 can result in abnormal proteins that fail to stop cell division if the cell's DNA is damaged, leading to an increased number of mutations and abnormal daughter cells. Additionally, the mutated p53 found in cancer cells cannot trigger cell death.