Genetics of Disease

Development to Cancer Pretest

Twenty questions, twenty to thirty minutes. Most of these are about ideas you have not studied yet, and that is the point: this is a starting line, not a test you can fail. Answer what you think, and guess when you need to.

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0 of 20 answered

Question 1 of 20
Two skin cells contain the same pigment gene, but only one cell makes the pigment protein. Which explanation is best?
The cells regulate expression of the pigment gene differently.The two cells must have entirely different chromosome numbers.The inactive cell removed the pigment gene from its DNA.The active cell absorbed the finished protein from nearby blood.
Question 2 of 20
Two developing palates fail to fuse and look similar. In one, a signal is missing. In the other, cells cannot respond to the signal. What follows?
The signal must be unrelated because both cases look alike.The visible outcome identifies which molecular step failed.The similar appearance proves both cases have the same mutation.Two different mechanisms can produce the same visible outcome.
Question 3 of 20
Cells already committed to cartilage stop migrating when Signal X is removed. A different motility signal restores migration, and the cells still become cartilage. What role did Signal X most likely play?
It permanently changed every gene in the cells.It instructed cartilage identity and nothing else.It permitted the migration, and did not set cartilage identity.It served only as a structural part of the cartilage.
Question 4 of 20
A cell still contains a working growth-brake gene, but regulatory proteins keep the gene silent. Which statement is most accurate?
The brake gene is still present but is repressed.The cell deleted the brake gene from every chromosome.The brake gene has become an oncogene.The brake protein must be present at a high level.
Question 5 of 20
One cell line activates a growth pathway. Another loses a stop signal. Both divide too often. Which principle fits best?
Only the activated growth pathway can produce excess division.Different disrupted pathways can converge on the same outcome.A stop signal and a growth signal are always the same molecule.The two cell lines must contain identical mutations.
Question 6 of 20
What is differentiation?
A tissue spreads from its original site to a distant organ.A cell divides without any checkpoint or external signal.A cell replaces its DNA with genes from a nearby tissue.A cell develops a specialized identity through gene regulation.
Question 7 of 20
During normal development, cells between forming fingers undergo programmed death. What does this show?
Programmed death is evidence that the embryo has cancer.Development builds structures only by adding more cells.The cells died because every developmental signal failed.Development can sculpt tissue through programmed cell removal.
Question 8 of 20
Tumor cells reduce adhesion and move through a remodeled extracellular matrix into nearby tissue. What does this evidence support?
The cells formed a benign tumor that cannot invade.The cells completed metastasis to a distant organ.The cells changed every gene into an oncogene.These cells support a claim of local tissue invasion.
Question 9 of 20
The same signal promotes cell division early in development but promotes differentiation later. Which explanation is best?
A signal has one fixed effect in every cell and at every time.The later cells must no longer contain receptors or genes.The timing and the cell's context can change the response.The early and late signals cannot be the same molecule.
Question 10 of 20
Which description best defines cancer?
Diseases with lost growth control and possible invasion or spread.Any group of cells that divides faster than nearby tissue.Any tumor that can be seen in a medical image.An inherited condition that always appears in every family member.
Question 11 of 20
A biopsy shows abnormal cells crossing into nearby tissue. No distant sites were tested. Which conclusion stays within the evidence?
The tumor is invasive, and metastasis remains unproven.The cancer has metastasized to every major organ.The tumor is benign because no distant tumor was measured.The biopsy proves which treatment will work best.
Question 12 of 20
A targeted drug kills most cells in a tumor, but a small cell group lacks the target and survives. What is the best prediction?
All tumor cells will remain equally sensitive to the drug.The resistant group of cells may expand after treatment begins.The drug will add the missing target to every surviving cell.The surviving cells will automatically become normal tissue.
Question 13 of 20
A mutation is found only in a patient's tumor and not in blood cells. How is it best classified?
A normal allele present in every body cellA germline mutation inherited by every childA somatic mutation in the tumor lineageA contagious mutation passed by contact
Question 14 of 20
A cell acquires one DNA mutation. Which statement is most accurate?
The mutation guarantees a tumor in every tissue.Its effect depends on context and other changes.One mutation always creates metastatic cancer.The mutation changes every base in the genome.
Question 15 of 20
Which change can turn a normal proto-oncogene into an oncogene?
Reduced expression of a growth-promoting geneComplete restoration of normal checkpoint controlImproved repair of damaged DNAActivation that drives too much growth signaling
Question 16 of 20
What is a common effect of losing a tumor-suppressor gene function?
Every damaged DNA base is repaired faster.The cell can no longer express any gene.Growth braking is reduced.All cell receptors become identical.
Question 17 of 20
A tumor has Biomarker B, the target of Drug B. What is the best use of this result?
It proves surgery would spread the tumor.It shows every tumor cell contains the target.It supports considering Drug B.It proves Drug B will cure the patient.
Question 18 of 20
Which comparison correctly distinguishes chemotherapy from radiation therapy?
Radiation circulates through the blood like an oral drug.Chemotherapy is systemic; radiation treats a planned area.Both treatments target one mutation and no other cells.Chemotherapy uses only surgery; radiation uses only antibiotics.
Question 19 of 20
What is the main goal of cancer immunotherapy?
Remove every inherited variant from the bodyHelp immunity recognize or attack cancerReplace all surgery with antibioticsMake every tumor cell genetically identical
Question 20 of 20
A tumor shrinks, then regrows with cells that lack the drug target. Which mechanism best explains the regrowth?
Target-negative cells survived and expanded.Every cell became sensitive to the drug.The drug created a new organ.The original diagnosis must have been wrong.

You will get a receipt, not a score.The two confidence questions are optional.