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Essay / Cancer and the process of cell division
Table of contentsIntroductionThe cell cycleCell divisionCell growthCancer treatmentConclusionIntroductionCancer. As brutal as this word may sound and as harmful as it may be to the human body, it is about uncontrollable cell growth. Internal and external changes that can occur in the body can cause DNA modification. These changes can cause cells to multiply and not die, leading to rapid growth of the now cancerous cells. According to Sylvia and Michael (2014), cancer, also known as the "cell cycle", occurs in several stages called "interphase stages" and they are G1, G2, S and M. Each of these stages plays a major role in the movement of the cell throughout this cell cycle. Apoptosis as described by Sylvia & Michael (2014) contributes to a decrease in cell number, which is called programmed cell death. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay Many types of cancer exist today, but the most common are skin cancer, breast cancer, cancer lung and prostate cancer, and they are all caused by cell division gone wrong, leading to accelerated cell growth. Statistics showed that 10 million people were diagnosed with cancer in 2000 and 6.2 million people died from it worldwide, representing a 22% increase from 1990 (Naomi et al. 2005 ). Cancer, to this day, is still known as one of the leading causes of death.The Cell CycleAccording to Sylvia and Michael (2014), cancer, also known as the "cell cycle", is also defined as several stages that occur between the time the cell divides and the time that divided cell also divides. The cell cycle occurs in several stages called "interphase stages": G1, which occurs before DNA synthesis, G2, which occurs after DNA synthesis, and S, which includes the synthesis of DNA. Each of these steps plays a major role in moving the cell through this cell cycle. The interphase stage is the period during which the cell is preparing to divide. When it divides, it grows and doubles the number of organelles as well as the amount of DNA. Stage “G” represents growth as it occurs at this stage. During the G1 stage, the cell's organelles double, it also acquires the materials essentially necessary for DNA synthesis. The G2 stage is where the cell synthesizes the proteins necessary for cell division, for example the proteins that form microtubules. During the S stage, DNA reproduction takes place, this is where each chromosome is made up of one DNA molecule, called chromatids. The end of this stage is where each of the chromosomes consists of two chromatids called “sister chromatids” which remain attached until they are separated during mitosis. This leads to the mitotic stage, called M stage. This stage is divided into two parts called mitosis and cytokinesis, where mitosis is the division of the nucleus which is also divided into five phases, namely prophase, late prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase. Cytokinesis is the division of the cytoplasm. Cells die every day and new ones are always produced. This cell division is crucial for repairing damaged tissues after injury. Cell division is also known to increase the number of cells in the body. This contrasts with apoptosis which decreases the number of cells, known asthe name “programmed cell death” Sylvia and Michael (2014). Apoptosis is the removal of inappropriate tissue, which impacts cancer and prevents it from occurring, such as cancer cells. normally die from apoptosis, which helps prevent tumor progression and growth. Apoptosis is where the cell goes through a phase of destruction, during which it loses its interaction with other cells. As a result, fragments of the nucleus and plasma membrane produce blisters. When it comes to apoptosis, there are two types of caspases, the first is called "initiators" and the second is called "executioners". The initiators are very crucial because they are the ones who receive the signals in order to activate the second caspase. This then results in the activation of enzymes that break down the cell. Although apoptosis is known to be the decrease in cell number, Lowe & Lin (2000) describe it by its morphological characteristics, such as membrane swelling, cell shrinkage, and nucleus fragmentation. Controlled cell movement in the cell cycle occurs through two types of genetic control, they are known as “proto-oncogenes” and “tumor suppressor genes” Sylvia & Michael (2014). The proto-oncogene codes for proteins that develop the cell cycle that prevents apoptosis. In contrast, tumor suppressor genes encode proteins that interrupt the cell cycle and therefore promote apoptosis. Cell Division Understanding cell division and what makes cancer cell division very different from normal cell division is very important to understand. Adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) have two types of division: asymmetric and symmetric. Asymmetric division aims to maintain tissue homeostasis. However, symmetric division is beneficial for the extreme expansion of malignant cells, resulting in unlimited tumor growth. Emerging evidence shows that restricting the switch from symmetric to asymmetric division of cancer cells would be beneficial, because cancer treatment would then only target damaged tissues and would not affect normal tissue homeostasis. According to (Marte 2004), cells are continually responsible for mutations in their DNA, which are normally damaging to the cell. Cancer cells trigger and conquer the bloodstream as well as other tissues. Additionally, genomic instability resulting from cell division or defective DNA repair can lead to an increased rate of possible tumorigenic mutations in which it contributes to cancer progression. Cell Growth Understanding controlled cell growth and proliferation in cancer is very crucial as it is the main reason for the development of cancer. Cell growth is the growth of cells in size, while proliferation is the increase in the number of cells through division. For normal cellular development, there is a precise technique that allows each organ to reach its size, and not exceed it. But when a tissue is damaged and is unable to repair itself, the surviving cells around it divide to help repair what is damaged. That being said, in most organs, stem cells capable of dividing replace specific organ cells. Tumor cells differ from normal cells when comparing their response to normal control mechanisms. For example, some of these tumor cells, especially when they have changed from normal, mean that they cannot divide at all. Tumors,.