How has the study of mitosis contributed to scientists' understanding of cancer?

• A. It has demonstrated that mitosis is unrelated to cancer development.
• B. It has revealed that uncontrolled mitosis leads to tumor formation.
• C. It has shown that cancer cells do not undergo mitosis.
• D. It has proven that mitosis only occurs in cancerous cells.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the process of mitosis: Mitosis is the division of a single cell into two genetically identical daughter cells. It is a normal and essential process for growth, repair, and maintenance in multicellular organisms.
2. Recognize the connection between mitosis and cancer: Cancer is characterized by uncontrolled cell division. This means that the regulation of mitosis is disrupted, leading to the formation of tumors.
3. Clarify the role of mitosis in cancer development: Scientists have discovered that mutations in genes regulating the cell cycle (such as tumor suppressor genes and proto-oncogenes) can cause cells to bypass normal checkpoints, resulting in uncontrolled mitosis.
4. Eliminate incorrect statements: For example, the statement 'mitosis is unrelated to cancer development' is false because mitosis is directly involved in the process of tumor formation. Similarly, 'cancer cells do not undergo mitosis' and 'mitosis only occurs in cancerous cells' are incorrect because mitosis occurs in all dividing cells, not just cancerous ones.
5. Conclude with the correct understanding: The study of mitosis has revealed that uncontrolled mitosis, due to disruptions in cell cycle regulation, leads to tumor formation, which is a hallmark of cancer.