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Modern Genetic Analysis
15. Regulation of Cell Number: Normal and Cancer Cells
Key Concepts

Normal cell proliferation is modulated by cell cycle regulation.
Apoptosis is a normal self-destruction mechanism that eliminates damaged and potentially harmful cells.
Signaling systems permit proliferation and apoptosis to be coordinated within a population of cells.
In cancer, cells proliferate out of control and avoid fail-safe destruction mechanisms through the accumulation of a series of special mutations in the same somatic cell.
Many of the classes of genes that are mutated to cause cancers are important components of the cell that directly or indirectly contribute to growth control and differentiation.

© 1999 by W. H. Freeman and Company. All rights reserved.