Question

Cancer biologists use principles of evolution to understand the development of tumors. A population of cells can obtain a mutation after exposure to a carcinogen. In some of the cells, the mutation is not repaired by the cell’s DNA repair machinery and is retained in the genotype. Only a fraction of the cells retaining the mutation become cancerous and only a fraction of those cells have the ability to form a tumor – cells that grow much faster than normal body cells. From the perspective of a tumor-causing cell, what evolutionary processes are at work? From the perspective of the body harboring these tumor cells, what evolutionary processes are at work?

Answer 1

Cancer or tumor development better understands with the theory of evolution. Cancer formation imitates species evolution. Both evolution and cancer are caused by mutation. Cell multiplication suppressor mechanisms are there in every cells from the begning of evolution, other wise we could have find big bodied animals and living beings.

If cancer studied from an evolutionary perspective will help to understand when it occurs in elderly, those who are exposed to radiation or to carcinogens. It also support to develope better treatment profile for cancer and to control it.

Evolutionary theories are important in controlling managing and preventing cancer. Getting older means inablity of cell to fight aganist mutation, irrespective of their reproductive years.

Theories of evolution explains how stomatic tissues maintained and suppressed tumor tissues and oncology. Generaly, cancer is not so common during young age is because of potency of tumor suppressing mechanism.

Cell division and cell survival are controlled within a cell by mechanism like cell suicide or cell death, if a cell shows tumor characterastics thus by preventing from multiplication. When these suicide mechanism gets altered by mutation, radiation or by chemicals will develope into uncontrolled multiplication of cells.