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Ch. 24 - Cancer Genetics
Klug - Concepts of Genetics 12th Edition
Klug12th EditionConcepts of Genetics ISBN: 9780135564776Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksKlug 12th EditionCh. 24 - Cancer GeneticsProblem 19
Chapter 24, Problem 19

Describe the difference between an acute transforming virus and a virus that does not cause tumors.

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Understand that an acute transforming virus is a type of virus that carries an oncogene, which is a gene capable of inducing cancer. This oncogene is often derived from the host cell's genome but has been altered or misregulated by the virus.
Recognize that the oncogene carried by an acute transforming virus can directly interfere with the normal regulation of cell growth and division, leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation and tumor formation.
Contrast this with a virus that does not cause tumors, which typically lacks an oncogene and does not directly disrupt the host cell's growth regulation. These viruses may replicate within the host without inducing cancer.
Note that non-tumor-causing viruses may still cause other types of diseases or remain latent in the host without causing significant harm, depending on the virus's life cycle and interaction with the host's immune system.
Summarize the key difference: acute transforming viruses actively promote tumor formation through the introduction of oncogenes, while non-tumor-causing viruses do not carry oncogenes and do not directly induce cancer.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Acute Transforming Viruses

Acute transforming viruses are a type of virus that can induce rapid transformation of host cells, leading to uncontrolled cell growth and tumor formation. These viruses often carry oncogenes, which are genes that can promote cancer when mutated or expressed at high levels. Examples include certain strains of retroviruses that can integrate their genetic material into the host genome, altering normal cellular functions.
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Non-Tumorigenic Viruses

Non-tumorigenic viruses are those that do not cause cancerous transformations in host cells. These viruses may replicate within the host without altering cellular growth control mechanisms or may cause acute infections that resolve without leading to long-term changes in cell behavior. Examples include many common cold viruses and other pathogens that primarily cause acute illnesses without oncogenic potential.
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Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressor Genes

Oncogenes are mutated forms of normal genes (proto-oncogenes) that, when activated, can lead to cancer by promoting excessive cell division or survival. In contrast, tumor suppressor genes normally function to inhibit cell growth and promote apoptosis. The balance between oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes is crucial in determining whether a cell becomes cancerous, highlighting the role of genetic factors in tumorigenesis.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Explain why many oncogenic viruses contain genes whose products interact with tumor-suppressor proteins.

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Textbook Question

DNA sequencing has provided data to indicate that cancer cells may contain tens of thousands of somatic mutations, only some of which confer a growth advantage to a cancer cell. How do scientists describe and categorize these recently discovered populations of mutations in cancer cells?

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Textbook Question

How do normal cells protect themselves from accumulating mutations in genes that could lead to cancer? How do cancer cells differ from normal cells in these processes?

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Textbook Question

Epigenetics is a relatively new area of genetics with a focus on phenomena that affect gene expression but do not affect DNA sequence. Epigenetic effects are quasi-stable and may be passed to progeny somatic or germ-line cells. What are known causes of epigenetic effects, and how do they relate to cancer?

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Textbook Question

Radiotherapy (treatment with ionizing radiation) is one of the most effective current cancer treatments. It works by damaging DNA and other cellular components. In which ways could radiotherapy control or cure cancer, and why does radiotherapy often have significant side effects?

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Textbook Question

Genetic tests that detect mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 tumor-suppressor genes are widely available. These tests reveal a number of mutations in these genes—mutations that have been linked to familial breast cancer. Assume that a young woman in a suspected breast cancer family takes the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic tests and receives negative results. That is, she does not test positive for the mutant alleles of BRCA1 or BRCA2. Can she consider herself free of risk for breast cancer?

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