Microbiology and Immunology 2500A/B Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Tumor Suppressor Gene, Cervical Cancer, Mutation Rate
10 Jan 2017
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They then have to exit from the bloodstream or lymph and settle, survive, and proliferate in a new location. This means that spontaneous mutations occur at an estimated rate of about 10 6 or 10 7 mutations per gene per cell division, even without encouragement by external mutagens. About 1016 cell divi- sions take place in a human body in the course of an average lifetime so that works about to about 10^9 mutations per gene per individual. As an initial population of mutant cells grows, it slowly evolves: new chance mutations occur, some of which are favoured by natural selection because they enhance cell proliferation/survival. Non-mutagenic environmental or lifestyle factors such as obesity may favor the development of cancer by altering the selection pressures that operate in tissues. Different cancers require different combinations of properties. List of general differences between normal cells and cancer cells:
