Cellular Biology, Epigenetics, and Stress Response Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering topics in cellular adaptation, injury, death, epigenetics, cancer genetics, and general adaptation syndrome.

Hypoxic Injury

Cell stress caused by a lack of oxygen, identified as the most common cause of cellular injury.

Necrosis

Cell death characterized by inflammatory changes and autolysis.

Apoptosis

Cell death occurring without inflammatory changes, comprising Type I and Type II cell death.

Autophagy

A cellular degradation and death process associated with a deficiency of nutrients or growth factors.

Environmental Carcinogens

Exposures such as ultraviolet radiation, cigarette smoke, radiation, mildewed grain, industrial chemicals, viruses, and smoked foods that lead to specific organ cancers.

Epigenetic Mechanisms

Heritable marks regulating gene expression without changing the DNA sequence, which include DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications, and RNA-based mechanisms.

Housekeeping Genes

Genes that are expressed across all cell types.

Biallelic

Refers to genes where both maternal and paternal inherited copies are expressed.

Monoallelic

Refers to genes where either the maternal or paternal copy is inactivated in some cells.

Imprinted

Refers to genes where either the maternal or paternal copy is inactivated in all somatic cells of the phenotype.

Prader-Willi Syndrome

An epigenetic imprinted condition inherited from the father.

Angelman Syndrome

An epigenetic imprinted condition inherited from the mother.

Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome

An epigenetic imprinted condition caused by the overexpression of a gene.

Russell-Silver Syndrome

An epigenetic imprinted condition caused by the underexpression of a gene.

Tumor Cell Hypomethylation

Decreased methylation in tumor cells, which can increase the activity of oncogenes (mutated genes).

Tumor-Suppressor Gene Hypermethylation

Increased methylation of tumor-suppressor genes, which decreases their rate of transcription and their ability to inhibit tumor formation.

General Adaptation Syndrome

A three-stage systemic stress response consisting of the alarm stage, stage of resistance (adaptation), and stage of exhaustion (allostatic overload).

Epinephrine

A stress hormone that triggers the fight or flight response and acts to increase serum glucose concentration.

BRCA2 Gene Mutation

An inherited genetic mutation conferring a $500/0$ to $800/0$ lifetime risk of developing breast cancer.

Pathologic Hyperplasia

An abnormal increase in the number of cells that may occur in response to growth factors.