Cancer Genetics

Introduction

Cancer is ultimately the outcome of cells that overwhelmingly propagate and do not perish. Ordinary cells within the body follow a systematic conduit of development, detachment, and demise (Mooney, 2007, P.24). When the programmed course of cell death fails, cancer starts to develop. Carcinogens are elements that are directly responsible for injuring DNA hence encouraging cancer. They include tobacco, lead, emitted rays like gamma and x-rays, the sun, and mixtures in car exhaust gasses (Mooney, 2007, P.27). Cancer can be the consequence of a genomic susceptibility that is hereditary from family associates.

There are possibilities to be born with various hereditary alterations or a modification in a genetic factor that increases one’s likelihood to develop cancer later in lifetime (Mooney, 2007, P.31). Numerous viruses have also been associated to cancer for example human papillomavirus which causes cancer of the cervix as well as hepatitis B and C which causes cancer of the liver (Mooney, 2007, P.34). Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) destroys or deteriorates the immunity therefore obstructing the body’s capacity to combat infections thus increases the probability of developing cancer. Certain elements like asbestos cause cancer mostly via their physical impacts on functional units of living organisms (Mooney, 2007, P.37).

Distributing assets for cancer prevention should emphasize on education concerning cancer avoidance. Training community on tumor control is vital since various routines are recognized to be linked with the beginning of cancers in several parts. Learning institutions can support education on cancer both as ailment and life experience (Mooney, 2007, P.39). Investigations have recognized that prudently organized cancer teaching programs have been effective in raising consciousness about the illness in increasing affirmative health practices. Smoking is the main source of cancers like lung cancer (Mooney, 2007, P.47). However, not everybody who smokes will acquire lung illness.

Our bodies are ordinarily good at refurbishing themselves from hurts, and certain individuals’ bodies are superior at it than others. Similarly, one needs to accrue a lot of these alterations prior to their cell becoming tumorous (Mooney, 2007, P.49). The p53 protein thwarts a cell from finishing the cell sequence if its DNA is impaired or the cell has underwent other types of injury. If the harm is negligible, p53 stops the cell sequence; hence cell detachment till the harm is fixed (Mooney, 2007, P.54). When the harm is major and cannot be fixed, p53 activates the cell to obligate death by apoptosis, therefore making p53 an important participant in keeping us from cancer.

References

Mooney, B. (2007). Cancer. Detroit: Greenhaven Press.