Question 1

Which of the following best describes the fundamental properties shared by all cancer cells?

Accepted Answer

Unregulated cell proliferation and metastasis

Question 2

A mutation in the p53 gene is most likely to result in which of the following cellular outcomes?

Accepted Answer

Failure to arrest the cell cycle and impaired apoptosis

Question 3

Which gene type is described as an 'inept mechanic' and is responsible for maintaining genetic stability by repairing DNA?

Accepted Answer

Stability genes (caretakers)

Question 4

A dominant mutation that causes unregulated cell growth and produces a protein product is most likely found in which type of gene?

Accepted Answer

Oncogene

Question 5

Which of the following best explains why cancer is considered an age-related disease?

Accepted Answer

Cancer requires the accumulation of multiple mutations over time

Question 6

If a cell has a loss-of-function mutation in the RB1 gene, which checkpoint is most likely to be affected?

Accepted Answer

G1/S checkpoint

Question 7

Which of the following environmental factors is most likely to contribute to cancer development by causing mutations in proto-oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes?

Accepted Answer

Carcinogens such as chemicals, radiation, and viruses

Question 8

Epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation can lead to cancer by:

Accepted Answer

Silencing tumor suppressor genes and activating oncogenes

Question 9

Which equation best represents the probability of developing cancer as a function of age, assuming the risk increases with the number of mutations accumulated?

Accepted Answer

$$P_{cancer} = 1 - e$$^{-\lambda t}$$

Question 10

A patient inherits a single mutated allele of a tumor suppressor gene. According to the 'two-hit' hypothesis, what must occur for cancer to develop?

Accepted Answer

A second mutation must occur in the remaining normal allele

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the role of proto-oncogenes in normal cells?

Accepted Answer

They promote cell growth and division at the right time

Question 12

Which checkpoint in the cell cycle is responsible for monitoring spindle formation and attachment to kinetochores?

Accepted Answer

M checkpoint

Question 13

Which of the following is a plausible consequence of inactivating stability genes (caretakers) in a cell?

Accepted Answer

Increased mutation rate in other genes

Question 14

A cancer cell karyotype often shows which of the following chromosomal abnormalities?

Accepted Answer

Translocations, deletions, and aneuploidy

Question 15

Which of the following best describes a 'driver mutation' in cancer genetics?

Accepted Answer

A mutation that gives a growth advantage to tumor cells

Question 16

In the multistep model of colon cancer development, which gene is typically mutated first?

Accepted Answer

APC

Question 17

Which of the following statements about inherited cancer-susceptibility genes is correct?

Accepted Answer

Most inherited cancer-susceptibility genes are not sufficient in themselves to trigger cancer development

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the effect of hypermethylation of the BRCA1 gene in cancer cells?

Accepted Answer

Transcriptional silencing of BRCA1, leading to impaired DNA repair

Question 19

Which of the following is a plausible real-world scenario illustrating the effect of carcinogens on cancer risk?

Accepted Answer

A person who smokes a pack of cigarettes daily accumulates approximately 150 mutations per year in each lung cell

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the relationship between cell cycle checkpoints and cancer development?

Accepted Answer

Mutations in checkpoint genes can lead to uncontrolled cell growth

Cancer Genetics: Mechanisms, Genes, and Environmental Factors

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