Cell Division Gone Wrong: Aging and Cancer

Faulty Cell Divisions

Increasing number of errors in cell divisions as we age, leading to health issues like Alzheimer's and heart failure.

Aging Genes

Hundreds of genes linked to development and aging that stop functioning effectively as we grow older.

Telomeres

Regions of DNA at the end of chromosomes that protect them during cell division and shorten with each division.

Centromere

A part of a chromosome that may misalign during aging, affecting cell division rates.

Cancer

A group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell growth due to DNA mutations.

Tumour

A mass of cells that grow and divide without purpose; can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

Metastasis

The process of cancer cells spreading from the primary tumour to other parts of the body.

Carcinogens

Environmental factors like tobacco smoke and radiation that can cause mutations leading to cancer.

Cancer Screening

Checking for cancer without symptoms, including self-examinations and regular medical checkups.

ABCD of Moles

A self-examination method for moles: Asymmetry, Border, Colour, Diameter.

Antioxidants

Substances that protect the body against free radicals, potentially reducing cancer risk.

Biopsy

A procedure to take samples of tissue to determine if they contain cancer cells.

Chemotherapy

A cancer treatment using drugs to slow down or stop the division of cancer cells.

Radiation Treatment

A targeted cancer treatment that damages cancer cells using radiation.

Biophotonics

A developing method that uses light beams for early cancer detection and targeted treatment.