08.E BIO, HN Regulating Cell Growth (PART E)

External Regulation of Cell Growth

Contact inhibition
Anchorage dependent inhibition

Internal Regulation of Cell Growth

Cyclins
Stop and Go signals

Contact Inhibition

A mechanism that controls cell growth when cells come into contact with other cells, they respond by not growing; the proteins on the cell membrane surface signals each other

Anchorage Dependent Inhibition

A mechanism that controls cell growth in which cells can only divide when they are anchored to a surface; i.e. inside a culture jar or extracellular matrix of a tissue

Cyclins

A protein that helps regulate the cell cycle

Stop and Go Signals

Certain criteria must be met for a cell to proceed through the process of cell division; for example, if the centromere is not properly attached to spindle microtubules a molecular signal is sent that delays anaphase until they are correctly attached

Cancer

A disorder in which some of the body's own cells lose the ability to control growth

Metastasis

An abnormal mass of cells that is fast growing and spreads beyond their original site in the body; cancerous

Benign tumor

An abnormal mass of cells that is slower growing and remains at its original site in the body; noncancerous tumor

Malignant tumor

An abnormal tissue mass that can spread into neighboring tissue and to other parts of the body; a cancerous tumor

Tumor

A mass of rapidly dividing cells that can damage surrounding tissue