Unbeknownst to her or her care team, a 51-year-old woman's breast cancer has an etiology rooted in the fact that tumor-suppressing genes are present but have been silenced. Consequently, she has not synthesized normal cancer-suppressing proteins, and neoplasia has resulted. What process has accounted for the woman's cancer?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Epigenetic mechanisms may silence genes, such as tumor suppressor genes, so that even though the gene is present, it is not expressed and a cancer-suppressing protein is not made. This process does not involve defects in DNA repair or chromosomal translocation, and while it may form a half of the "two-hit" hypothesis, this is not synonymous with epigenetic mechanisms.

Unbeknownst to Her or Her Care Team, a 51-Year-Old Woman's