,BIOD 101 Module 7 | Essential Biology I | Portage Learning |
Questions & Verified Answers | 2026 Edition
1. What is cancer at the cellular level?
A) An infection caused by a virus that leads to cell death
B) A disease characterized by the uncontrolled division of abnormal cells
C) A genetic disorder present from birth that affects all cells
D) A condition caused by a deficiency of essential nutrients
Correct Answer: A disease characterized by the uncontrolled division of abnormal cells
Rationale: Cancer is fundamentally a disease of uncontrolled cell division. Normal cells obey strict
regulatory controls that limit their growth and division, but cancer cells lose these controls and
proliferate excessively, forming tumors and potentially spreading to other parts of the body.
2. What is the primary difference between a benign tumor and a malignant tumor?
A) Benign tumors grow faster than malignant tumors
B) Benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body; malignant tumors can metastasize
C) Benign tumors are caused by viruses; malignant tumors are caused by mutations
D) Benign tumors occur only in children; malignant tumors occur only in adults
Correct Answer: Benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body; malignant tumors can
metastasize
Rationale: Benign tumors are non-cancerous growths that remain localized and do not invade nearby
tissues or spread to distant sites. Malignant tumors are cancerous and have the ability to invade
surrounding tissues and metastasize (spread) to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or
lymphatic system.
3. What is metastasis?
A) The process by which a benign tumor becomes malignant
,B) The spread of cancer cells from the primary tumor to distant sites in the body
C) The death of cancer cells in response to treatment
D) The formation of new blood vessels to supply a tumor
Correct Answer: The spread of cancer cells from the primary tumor to distant sites in the body
Rationale: Metastasis is the process by which cancer cells break away from the original (primary) tumor,
travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system, and form new tumors in other organs or tissues.
Metastatic cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths.
4. Which of the following best describes the role of the cell cycle in cancer development?
A) The cell cycle stops completely, preventing cell division
B) Dysregulation of the cell cycle leads to uncontrolled cell proliferation
C) The cell cycle speeds up, but cells die before dividing
D) The cell cycle is unaffected in cancer cells
Correct Answer: Dysregulation of the cell cycle leads to uncontrolled cell proliferation
Rationale: Cancer arises when the normal regulatory mechanisms of the cell cycle are disrupted. This
dysregulation allows cells to divide uncontrollably, bypassing checkpoints that normally prevent
excessive or inappropriate cell division. Mutations in genes that control the cell cycle are a hallmark of
cancer.
5. What are proto-oncogenes?
A) Genes that suppress tumor formation
B) Normal genes that promote cell growth and division
C) Genes that repair damaged DNA
D) Genes that trigger apoptosis in damaged cells
Correct Answer: Normal genes that promote cell growth and division
, Rationale: Proto-oncogenes are normal genes that regulate cell growth and division. When mutated or
overexpressed, they become oncogenes that drive uncontrolled cell proliferation. They are essentially
the "accelerator" of cell division.
6. What is an oncogene?
A) A gene that prevents cell division
B) A mutated form of a proto-oncogene that promotes cancer
C) A gene that repairs DNA damage
D) A gene that causes cell death
Correct Answer: A mutated form of a proto-oncogene that promotes cancer
Rationale: An oncogene is a mutated or overactive version of a proto-oncogene. This mutation causes
the gene to be stuck in the "on" position, driving continuous cell division and contributing to cancer
development. Oncogenes act like a stuck accelerator pedal in a car.
7. What are tumor suppressor genes?
A) Genes that promote cell division
B) Genes that normally restrain cell growth and prevent tumor formation
C) Genes that cause mutations in DNA
D) Genes that are always mutated in cancer
Correct Answer: Genes that normally restrain cell growth and prevent tumor formation
Rationale: Tumor suppressor genes are the "brakes" of cell division. They normally function to inhibit
cell growth, repair DNA damage, or trigger apoptosis. When both copies of a tumor suppressor gene are
inactivated by mutation, cells can divide uncontrollably, increasing cancer risk.
8. What is the function of the p53 gene?
A) It promotes cell division in response to growth signals
Questions & Verified Answers | 2026 Edition
1. What is cancer at the cellular level?
A) An infection caused by a virus that leads to cell death
B) A disease characterized by the uncontrolled division of abnormal cells
C) A genetic disorder present from birth that affects all cells
D) A condition caused by a deficiency of essential nutrients
Correct Answer: A disease characterized by the uncontrolled division of abnormal cells
Rationale: Cancer is fundamentally a disease of uncontrolled cell division. Normal cells obey strict
regulatory controls that limit their growth and division, but cancer cells lose these controls and
proliferate excessively, forming tumors and potentially spreading to other parts of the body.
2. What is the primary difference between a benign tumor and a malignant tumor?
A) Benign tumors grow faster than malignant tumors
B) Benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body; malignant tumors can metastasize
C) Benign tumors are caused by viruses; malignant tumors are caused by mutations
D) Benign tumors occur only in children; malignant tumors occur only in adults
Correct Answer: Benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body; malignant tumors can
metastasize
Rationale: Benign tumors are non-cancerous growths that remain localized and do not invade nearby
tissues or spread to distant sites. Malignant tumors are cancerous and have the ability to invade
surrounding tissues and metastasize (spread) to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or
lymphatic system.
3. What is metastasis?
A) The process by which a benign tumor becomes malignant
,B) The spread of cancer cells from the primary tumor to distant sites in the body
C) The death of cancer cells in response to treatment
D) The formation of new blood vessels to supply a tumor
Correct Answer: The spread of cancer cells from the primary tumor to distant sites in the body
Rationale: Metastasis is the process by which cancer cells break away from the original (primary) tumor,
travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system, and form new tumors in other organs or tissues.
Metastatic cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths.
4. Which of the following best describes the role of the cell cycle in cancer development?
A) The cell cycle stops completely, preventing cell division
B) Dysregulation of the cell cycle leads to uncontrolled cell proliferation
C) The cell cycle speeds up, but cells die before dividing
D) The cell cycle is unaffected in cancer cells
Correct Answer: Dysregulation of the cell cycle leads to uncontrolled cell proliferation
Rationale: Cancer arises when the normal regulatory mechanisms of the cell cycle are disrupted. This
dysregulation allows cells to divide uncontrollably, bypassing checkpoints that normally prevent
excessive or inappropriate cell division. Mutations in genes that control the cell cycle are a hallmark of
cancer.
5. What are proto-oncogenes?
A) Genes that suppress tumor formation
B) Normal genes that promote cell growth and division
C) Genes that repair damaged DNA
D) Genes that trigger apoptosis in damaged cells
Correct Answer: Normal genes that promote cell growth and division
, Rationale: Proto-oncogenes are normal genes that regulate cell growth and division. When mutated or
overexpressed, they become oncogenes that drive uncontrolled cell proliferation. They are essentially
the "accelerator" of cell division.
6. What is an oncogene?
A) A gene that prevents cell division
B) A mutated form of a proto-oncogene that promotes cancer
C) A gene that repairs DNA damage
D) A gene that causes cell death
Correct Answer: A mutated form of a proto-oncogene that promotes cancer
Rationale: An oncogene is a mutated or overactive version of a proto-oncogene. This mutation causes
the gene to be stuck in the "on" position, driving continuous cell division and contributing to cancer
development. Oncogenes act like a stuck accelerator pedal in a car.
7. What are tumor suppressor genes?
A) Genes that promote cell division
B) Genes that normally restrain cell growth and prevent tumor formation
C) Genes that cause mutations in DNA
D) Genes that are always mutated in cancer
Correct Answer: Genes that normally restrain cell growth and prevent tumor formation
Rationale: Tumor suppressor genes are the "brakes" of cell division. They normally function to inhibit
cell growth, repair DNA damage, or trigger apoptosis. When both copies of a tumor suppressor gene are
inactivated by mutation, cells can divide uncontrollably, increasing cancer risk.
8. What is the function of the p53 gene?
A) It promotes cell division in response to growth signals
