A cell has a mutation in both alleles of its p53 gene that causes the p53 protein to be three times as effective as normal. What do you predict would happen to this cell?
A) The cell would divide three times as fast and would lead to cancer.
B) The cell would divide into six daughter cells instead of two and would lead to cancer.
C) The cell would divide with mutated DNA and would lead to cancer.
D) The cell would divide normally or possibly not at all.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

While the increased effectiveness of p53 may initially seem advantageous, it actually serves as a tumor suppressor protein and is responsible for detecting and repairing DNA damage. With mutated DNA, the cell would either divide normally or not at all, as p53 triggers apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cells with irreparable DNA damage. However, over time, accumulation of additional mutations could lead to the development of cancer.

A Cell Has a Mutation in Both Alleles of Its