Telomeres and cancer – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
What is the replicative potential of a tumor cell?
answer
Limitless
question
How many doublings are normal cells capable of?
answer
Normal cells have a capacity of 60 to 70 doublings, before dying by either scenecence or apoptosis
question
What happens when normal cells divide?
answer
Shortening of telomeres
question
What are telomeres?
answer
Specialized structures at the end of chromosomes
question
What happens once telomeres are shortened to a certain minimal threshold?
answer
End to end chromosome fusion occurs
question
What happens when end to end chromosome fusion occurs?
answer
Apoptosis or proliferative arrest
question
How do tumors survive so many cell divisions without shortening of their telomeres?
answer
They have activated telomerase which maintain normal telomere length
question
Where is telomerase normally located?
answer
This enzyme is usually present in germ cells only
