Cell Biology: Cancer, Apoptosis, Contact Inhibition, and Tumors

Flashcards covering key definitions and cellular processes related to cancer, apoptosis, contact inhibition, and tumors.

What is cancer?

A disease where abnormal cells divide without control.

What type of cells divide without control in cancer?

Abnormal cells.

How do abnormal cells divide in cancer?

Without control.

Which disease is defined by abnormal cells dividing without control?

Cancer.

What is apoptosis?

Programmed cell death, where a cell self-destructs to protect the health of the whole organism.

What term refers to programmed cell death?

Apoptosis.

What action does a cell take during apoptosis?

It self-destructs.

Why does a cell self-destruct during apoptosis?

To protect the health of the whole organism.

What is protected when a cell undergoes apoptosis?

The health of the whole organism.

contact inhibition

What is process where cells stop moving and dividing when they touch other cells.

What two activities do cells stop performing during contact inhibition?

Moving and dividing.

When do cells stop moving and dividing during contact inhibition?

When they touch other cells.

What is the process called where cells stop moving and dividing upon touching other cells?

Contact inhibition.

In contact inhibition, what physical event causes cells to stop moving and dividing?

Touching other cells.

What is a tumor?

An abnormal mass of tissues that forms when cells grow and divide too fast.

How is a tumor described in terms of tissue?

An abnormal mass of tissues.

a tumor forms

when abnormal cells grow and divide too fast.

At what rate do cells grow and divide when forming a tumor?

Too fast.

What abnormal mass forms when cells grow and divide too fast?

A tumor.

a cellular process where a cell self-destructs to protect organism health

Apoptosis.