Podcast
Questions and Answers
What defines a missense or nonsynonymous mutation?
What defines a missense or nonsynonymous mutation?
What is a significant consequence of genomic instability in cancer cells?
What is a significant consequence of genomic instability in cancer cells?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of cancer due to genetic changes?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of cancer due to genetic changes?
What role do 'driver' mutations play in cancer?
What role do 'driver' mutations play in cancer?
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How does cancer variability manifest within a single type of cancer?
How does cancer variability manifest within a single type of cancer?
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What are SNPs commonly referred to as?
What are SNPs commonly referred to as?
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How many SNPs do humans typically carry in their genomes?
How many SNPs do humans typically carry in their genomes?
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What is the typical clinical relevance of SNPs?
What is the typical clinical relevance of SNPs?
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What is the incidence of small-scale insertions/deletions in the human genome?
What is the incidence of small-scale insertions/deletions in the human genome?
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What percentage of mutations occur outside of genes?
What percentage of mutations occur outside of genes?
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Which of the following is a consequence of large-scale pathogenic mutations?
Which of the following is a consequence of large-scale pathogenic mutations?
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What type of mutation is a CFTR delta-508 deletion considered?
What type of mutation is a CFTR delta-508 deletion considered?
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Which effect indicates a non-sense mutation?
Which effect indicates a non-sense mutation?
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What percentage of DNA bases are identical when aligning two human genomes?
What percentage of DNA bases are identical when aligning two human genomes?
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What is one of the evolutionary purposes of sexual reproduction in humans?
What is one of the evolutionary purposes of sexual reproduction in humans?
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Which of the following is an example of large scale germ-line genetic variation?
Which of the following is an example of large scale germ-line genetic variation?
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What does the term 'pathological mutations' refer to?
What does the term 'pathological mutations' refer to?
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Which of the following is a consequence of genetic variation in relation to disease?
Which of the following is a consequence of genetic variation in relation to disease?
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What is meant by 'personalized medicine'?
What is meant by 'personalized medicine'?
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Different haplotypes can influence which aspect of an individual's health?
Different haplotypes can influence which aspect of an individual's health?
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Which type of mutation is characterized by a change that creates a premature stop codon?
Which type of mutation is characterized by a change that creates a premature stop codon?
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What does aneuploidy refer to in genetics?
What does aneuploidy refer to in genetics?
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Which of the following describes translocations in genetics?
Which of the following describes translocations in genetics?
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What is a characteristic of copy number variants (CNVs)?
What is a characteristic of copy number variants (CNVs)?
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What is the incidence of aneuploidy, specifically Down syndrome?
What is the incidence of aneuploidy, specifically Down syndrome?
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What type of genetic variation do microsatellites represent?
What type of genetic variation do microsatellites represent?
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How do single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) differ from insertions and deletions?
How do single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) differ from insertions and deletions?
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What is the clinical relevance of most copy number variants?
What is the clinical relevance of most copy number variants?
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Which of the following is NOT a viable form of aneuploidy?
Which of the following is NOT a viable form of aneuploidy?
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What is the main consequence of genomic instability in cancer cells?
What is the main consequence of genomic instability in cancer cells?
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Which type of mutation introduces a stop codon into the sequence?
Which type of mutation introduces a stop codon into the sequence?
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What allows certain clones of cancer cells to evade treatment?
What allows certain clones of cancer cells to evade treatment?
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What is a result of large-scale deletions and amplifications in cancer cells?
What is a result of large-scale deletions and amplifications in cancer cells?
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Which statement best describes why cancer is not classified as a single disease?
Which statement best describes why cancer is not classified as a single disease?
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Which of the following describes a characteristic of aneuploidy?
Which of the following describes a characteristic of aneuploidy?
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What is the primary clinical consequence of significant copy number variants (CNVs)?
What is the primary clinical consequence of significant copy number variants (CNVs)?
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Which statement best describes the incidence of translocations/transversions?
Which statement best describes the incidence of translocations/transversions?
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What type of genetic variation are microsatellites predominantly characterized by?
What type of genetic variation are microsatellites predominantly characterized by?
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What can be a consequence of a translocation during meiosis?
What can be a consequence of a translocation during meiosis?
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How many copy number variants (CNVs) are typically found in a human genome?
How many copy number variants (CNVs) are typically found in a human genome?
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Which of the following best describes single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)?
Which of the following best describes single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)?
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What is true regarding the clinical relevance of most microsatellites?
What is true regarding the clinical relevance of most microsatellites?
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What is the primary evolutionary purpose of sexual reproduction in humans?
What is the primary evolutionary purpose of sexual reproduction in humans?
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Which of the following best describes copy number variants (CNVs)?
Which of the following best describes copy number variants (CNVs)?
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How does genetic variation influence the immune system's response to diseases?
How does genetic variation influence the immune system's response to diseases?
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What does it mean when a mutation is described as 'non-synonymous'?
What does it mean when a mutation is described as 'non-synonymous'?
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What percentage of DNA bases typically show variation when comparing two human genomes?
What percentage of DNA bases typically show variation when comparing two human genomes?
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Which of the following is a potential benefit of certain 'disease genes'?
Which of the following is a potential benefit of certain 'disease genes'?
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What information do genetic variations such as insertions and deletions provide?
What information do genetic variations such as insertions and deletions provide?
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How can genetic variation affect personalized medicine approaches?
How can genetic variation affect personalized medicine approaches?
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What consequence may result from small-scale pathogenic mutations?
What consequence may result from small-scale pathogenic mutations?
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Which of the following is a characteristic of large-scale pathogenic mutations?
Which of the following is a characteristic of large-scale pathogenic mutations?
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What is the typical incidence of small-scale insertions/deletions in the human genome?
What is the typical incidence of small-scale insertions/deletions in the human genome?
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Which type of mutation is characterized by a change in the amino acid sequence of a protein?
Which type of mutation is characterized by a change in the amino acid sequence of a protein?
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What is the primary clinical relevance of most single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)?
What is the primary clinical relevance of most single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)?
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Which statement accurately describes the majority of genetic mutations?
Which statement accurately describes the majority of genetic mutations?
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Which phenomenon can result from large-scale genomic variations such as aneuploidy?
Which phenomenon can result from large-scale genomic variations such as aneuploidy?
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What is a notable consequence of pathogenic mutations that alter gene function?
What is a notable consequence of pathogenic mutations that alter gene function?
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What is a critical effect of genomic instability in cancer cells?
What is a critical effect of genomic instability in cancer cells?
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What phenomenon allows specific clones of cancer cells to survive despite treatment efforts?
What phenomenon allows specific clones of cancer cells to survive despite treatment efforts?
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How do driver mutations affect cancer cell behavior?
How do driver mutations affect cancer cell behavior?
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Which of the following describes a consequence of large scale genetic variations in cancer?
Which of the following describes a consequence of large scale genetic variations in cancer?
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What distinguishes cancer from being classified as a single disease?
What distinguishes cancer from being classified as a single disease?
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What is a common clinical consequence of aneuploidy?
What is a common clinical consequence of aneuploidy?
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Which genetic variation is primarily characterized by the exchange of DNA segments between different chromosomes?
Which genetic variation is primarily characterized by the exchange of DNA segments between different chromosomes?
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What does the presence of larger copy number variants (CNVs) typically indicate?
What does the presence of larger copy number variants (CNVs) typically indicate?
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What is the primary characteristic of microsatellites within the genome?
What is the primary characteristic of microsatellites within the genome?
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How does the incidence of aneuploidy such as Turner syndrome compare to overall aneuploidy rates?
How does the incidence of aneuploidy such as Turner syndrome compare to overall aneuploidy rates?
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What best describes the typical incidence of microsatellites in the human genome?
What best describes the typical incidence of microsatellites in the human genome?
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What factor is crucial in determining the clinical relevance of translocations?
What factor is crucial in determining the clinical relevance of translocations?
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What type of genetic variation involves the alteration of a single base pair in the DNA sequence?
What type of genetic variation involves the alteration of a single base pair in the DNA sequence?
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What is the most common significance of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in human genomes?
What is the most common significance of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in human genomes?
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Which of the following best describes a characteristic feature of small-scale pathogenic mutations?
Which of the following best describes a characteristic feature of small-scale pathogenic mutations?
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Which statement accurately describes the effect of a non-sense mutation?
Which statement accurately describes the effect of a non-sense mutation?
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What common attribute do a vast majority of mutations share within the human genome?
What common attribute do a vast majority of mutations share within the human genome?
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What is the primary structure affected by large-scale pathogenic variations such as translocations and copy number variants?
What is the primary structure affected by large-scale pathogenic variations such as translocations and copy number variants?
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What specific mutation effect is associated with CFTR delta-508?
What specific mutation effect is associated with CFTR delta-508?
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Which of the following mutations would be classified as a silent/synonymous mutation?
Which of the following mutations would be classified as a silent/synonymous mutation?
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What is the typical incidence of small-scale insertions and deletions (indels) found in the human genome?
What is the typical incidence of small-scale insertions and deletions (indels) found in the human genome?
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What percentage of DNA bases typically show variation when comparing two human genomes?
What percentage of DNA bases typically show variation when comparing two human genomes?
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What is a consequence of genetic variation in relation to responses to drugs?
What is a consequence of genetic variation in relation to responses to drugs?
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Which of the following can influence an individual’s susceptibility to environmental stresses?
Which of the following can influence an individual’s susceptibility to environmental stresses?
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In terms of genetic variation, how does sexual reproduction contribute to a population's survival?
In terms of genetic variation, how does sexual reproduction contribute to a population's survival?
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What type of genetic mutation is characterized by its potential to introduce gene expression alterations?
What type of genetic mutation is characterized by its potential to introduce gene expression alterations?
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How do copy number variants (CNVs) commonly affect an individual?
How do copy number variants (CNVs) commonly affect an individual?
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Which of the following illustrates the concept of pathological mutations providing advantages in certain conditions?
Which of the following illustrates the concept of pathological mutations providing advantages in certain conditions?
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What is the impact of genetic variation on transplant procedures?
What is the impact of genetic variation on transplant procedures?
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Study Notes
Large Scale Genetic Variation
-
Aneuploidy: one or more chromosomes are present in an extra copy or are missing.
- Example: Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome)
- Incidence: Rare (approximately 1 in 1000 newborns)
- Clinical Relevance: Often causes significant changes in gene expression, leading to specific clinical consequences (e.g., learning disability, developmental delay).
- Other viable trisomies: 13 (Patau Syndrome), 18 (Edwards Syndrome), and XXY (Klinefelter syndrome).
- Viable monosomy (X - Turner syndrome)
-
Translocations/Transversions: Exchange of DNA during meiosis between two different chromosomes.
- Incidence: Approximately 1 in 500 newborns.
- Clinical Relevance: Varies based on the event:
- Is there a net gain or loss of DNA?
- Is there disruption of the gene sequence?
- Do issues arise during gametogenesis (meiosis)?
-
Copy Number Variants (CNVs): Deletions or duplications of DNA segments larger than 1000 base pairs.
- Incidence: We all carry multiple CNVs in our genome.
- Clinical Relevance: Most are benign, but larger ones (>1 million base pairs) tend to be pathogenic (learning disability, autism, epilepsy, etc.).
Small Scale Genetic Variation
-
Microsatellites: Short (2-5 base pair) repeat units in DNA sequences.
- Incidence: Common, with approximately 10,000 microsatellites in each human genome.
- Clinical Relevance: Rarely disease-causing, the vast majority are benign.
-
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs): A single base-pair change in the DNA sequence.
- Incidence: 3.5 million SNPs in each human genome.
- Clinical Relevance: Most have a very small effect on disease or are benign; however, in rare cases, they can have a strong or disease-causing effect.
-
Insertions/Deletions: Small sections of DNA (one or a limited number of base pairs) that are present in some individuals but not others.
- Incidence: Common, with approximately 20,000 insertions/deletions in each human genome.
- Clinical Relevance: Rarely disease-causing; the vast majority are benign; however, can be damaging if within exons.
Pathogenic Mutations
- The vast majority of mutations occur outside of genes (98% of the genome is non-genic).
- Pathogenic mutations alter gene function deleteriously.
- Examples of pathogenic mutations include:
- Knock-out or increase copy number of a gene (CNV)
- Rearrange multiple genes (transversion/translocation)
- Change the amino acid sequence (non-synonymous mutation)
- Lead to premature stop of translation (nonsense mutation)
- Alter splicing (splice-site mutation)
Variation in Malignant Cells
- Characterized by ‘genomic instability’.
- Genetic changes lead to cancer, and cancer causes genetic changes.
- Genomic instability in cancer cells allows rapid 'evolution' of the cancer.
- Critical ‘driver’ mutations allow:
- Genomic instability to persist.
- Safety mechanisms to be bypassed.
- Rapid growth and division of cells.
- Metastasis.
- Genomic instability in cancer cells leads to:
- Large-scale deletions and amplifications.
- Chromosomal rearrangements.
- Epigenetic changes.
Cancer is not a single disease
- Different cancers arise from different tissues.
- There are often different ‘clones’ of cells within a cancer.
- Some clones may be sensitive to one pharmacological agent but not to another.
- Characterization of cancer is a growing field.
- Specific genes (BCR-Abl, HER2, etc.).
- Tumor profiling.
Large Scale Genetic Variation
-
Aneuploidy: One or more chromosomes are present in an extra copy or are missing.
- Example: Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome)
- Incidence: Rare (approx 1:1000 newborns)
- Clinical Relevance: Usually causes large-scale changes in gene expression with associated clinical consequences (e.g. learning disability, developmental delay).
- Other viable trisomies include: 13 (Patau Syndrome), 18 (Edwards Syndrome), and XXY (Kleinefelters Syndrome).
- Viable monosomy: X (Turner Syndrome)
-
Translocations/Transversions: Exchange of DNA during meiosis, between two different chromosomes.
- Incidence: Approx 1:500 newborns.
- Clinical Relevance: Depends on the event.
- Is there net gain or loss of DNA?
- Is there disruption of gene sequence?
- Do issues arise in gametogenesis - meiosis?
-
Copy Number Variants (CNVs): Deletions or duplications of DNA >1000 base-pairs in size.
- Incidence: We all carry multiple CNVs in our genome.
- Clinical Relevance: Most are benign, but larger ones (>1 million base-pairs) tend to be pathogenic (learning disability, autism, epilepsy etc).
Small Scale Genetic Variation
-
Microsatellites: Short (2-5bp) repeat units in DNA sequence.
- The number of copies varies from individual to individual.
- Incidence: Common, we all carry approximately 10,000 microsatellites in our genomes.
- Clinical Relevance: Rarely disease-causing, vast majority are benign.
-
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs): A single base-pair change in the DNA.
- Incidence: We all carry around 3.5 million SNPs.
- Clinical Relevance: As for microsatellite variation, vast majority are benign, or have a very small effect on disease, but in rare cases, they can be strong/disease causing.
-
Insertions & Deletions: Small sections of DNA (one or a limited number of base-pairs) that are present in some individuals but not in others.
- Incidence: Common, we all carry approximately 20,000 in our genomes,
- Clinical Relevance: Rarely disease causing, vast majority are benign. Can be damaging if they occur in exons.
Pathogenic Mutations
- Pathogenic mutations alter gene function deleteriously.
- They do one or more of the following:
- Knock-out or increase copy number of a gene (CNV)
- Rearrange multiple genes (i.e. transversion/translocation)
- Change the amino acid sequence (non-synonymous mutation)
- Lead to premature stop of translation (nonsense mutation)
- Alter splicing (splice-site mutation)
- They do one or more of the following:
Large-Scale Pathogenic Mutations
- Large-scale pathogenic variation (ploidy, translocations, CNVs etc) results in:
- Gross changes in gene expression, i.e. protein levels from multiple different genes are altered.
- Example: Trisomy 21 and its impact on gene expression.
Small-Scale Pathogenic Mutations
- Small-scale pathogenic variation results in:
- Changing of amino-acid sequence
- Skipping or introduction of an exon (aberrant splicing)
- Premature stop to translation
- Example: CFTR delta-508 (deletion of an amino acid - phenylalanine). Result is the protein can’t leave the ER for further processing.
Genetic Variation in Malignant Cells
-
Genomic Instability: Cancer is characterized by genomic instability, genetic changes lead to cancer and cancer causes further genetic changes.
- Genomic instability in cancer cells allows rapid “evolution”
- Critical "driver" mutations allow:
- Genomic instability to persist
- Safety mechanisms to be bypassed
- Rapid growth and division of cells
- Metastasis
-
Genetic Changes: Genomic instability in cancer cells leads to:
- Large-scale deletions and amplifications
- Chromosomal rearrangements
- Epigenetic changes
Cancer and Genetic Variation
- Cancer is not a single disease, different cancers arise from different tissues.
- Within a cancer, different ‘clones’ of cells often exist.
- Some clones may be sensitive to one pharmacological agent, but not to another.
- Genetic characterisation of cancers is a growing field.
- Specific genes (BCR-Abl, HER2 etc)
- Tumor profiling
Large Scale Genetic Variation
-
Aneuploidy is the presence of an extra copy or the absence of a chromosome.
- It is relatively rare, affecting approximately 1 in 1000 newborns.
- Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) is a common example.
- Other viable trisomies include 13 (Patau Syndrome), 18 (Edwards Syndrome), and XXY (Kleinefelters).
- Viable monosomy exists in Turner Syndrome (X).
-
Translocations/Transversions involve the exchange of DNA between different chromosomes during meiosis.
- They occur in approximately 1 in 500 newborns.
- Clinical consequences depend on if there is net gain or loss of DNA, disruption of gene sequence, or issues with gametogenesis.
-
Copy Number Variants (CNVs) are deletions or duplications of DNA greater than 1000 base pairs in size.
- Most individuals carry multiple CNVs in their genome.
- Larger CNVs (greater than 1 million base pairs) are often pathogenic, associated with conditions like learning disability, autism, and epilepsy.
Small Scale Genetic Variation
-
Microsatellites are short repeated units of DNA (2-5bp).
- The number of repeats varies between individuals.
- Individuals carry approximately 10,000 microsatellites.
- They are rarely disease-causing.
-
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) are single base-pair changes in DNA.
- Individuals carry around 3.5 million SNPs.
- Most have a small or no effect on phenotype, but some can lead to disease.
-
Insertions and Deletions are small sections of DNA (one or a few base pairs) present in some individuals but not others.
- These are common, with each individual carrying approximately 20,000.
- They are usually benign but can be damaging if they occur in exons.
Pathogenic Mutations
- The majority of mutations occur in non-coding regions (98%) and are therefore not disease-causing.
- Pathogenic mutations alter gene function, leading to:
- Gene knock-out or increased copy number (CNV)
- Rearrangement of multiple genes (transversions/translocations)
- Amino acid sequence change (non-synonymous mutation)
- Premature stop of translation (nonsense mutation)
- Altered splicing (splice-site mutation)
Genetic Variation in Malignant Cells
- Cancer is characterized by genomic instability.
- Genetic changes contribute to the development of cancer, and cancer itself can cause further genetic changes.
- Genomic instability allows for rapid evolution of cancer.
- 'Driver' mutations are critical for maintaining genomic instability, bypassing safety mechanisms, enabling rapid cell growth and division, and facilitating metastasis.
- Genomic instability in cancer cells leads to:
- Large-scale deletions and amplifications
- Chromosomal rearrangements
- Epigenetic changes
Cancer and Genetic Variation
- Different types of cancer arise from different tissues.
- Different 'clones' of cells often exist within a single cancer.
- Sensitivity to pharmacological agents can vary between clones.
- Genetic characterization of cancers is a growing field, with specific genes and tumor profiling being used.
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Description
Test your understanding of large scale genetic variations, including aneuploidy, translocations, and copy number variants. This quiz covers clinical implications and incidence rates of these genetic conditions. Perfect for students studying genetics or related fields!