Quote:
Originally Posted by LWJ
I will disagree. My understanding of cancer is that cells reproduce in an out of control method and don't die on schedule. ...
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pretty much
Cancer is thought to involve mutations to genes that control other genes ("control genes"). The mutations may be somatic (after they are all present in the organism, "doing stuff") or genetic (passed down thru generations). The body also has numerous mechanisms to repair these mutations, and there is variation in that (AND the repair genes are also subject to mutation).
Mutations can affect control genes during development, control genes that control development, genes that run the repair systems, etc. etc.
Mutations can be caused by chemical exposures, radiation, etc. Deficits in the repair mechanisms can be affected by stress as well as genetic inheritance, etc.
Sound complicated? That is just the beginning... hence the low likelihood of "a" cure for cancer.
- this is all from way long ago, so the Wheaties version may be different now -- anyway, I have to go now as I need to get my telomeres rewrapped