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Question:

Which of the following statement is not true for cancer cells in relation to mutations?

Mutations destroy telomerase inhibitor.

Mutations inactivate the cell control.

Mutations in proto-oncogenes accelerate the cell cycle.

Mutations inhibit production of telomerase.

Solution:

Protooncogenes are the genes that regulate the normal functioning of the cell cycle (the orderly series of events that leads to the formation of daughter cells by a parent cell and is under the regulation of several checkpoints). Mutation in proto-oncogenes produces oncogenes that cause loss of control over the cell cycle and uncontrolled and repetitive entry of the cell into the cell cycle, thereby forming tumors. This makes option A incorrect. Option C is incorrect as carcinogenic mutations inactivate the checkpoints and cause loss of control over the cell cycle. Option B is incorrect as these mutations inhibit the telomerase inhibitor and thereby make the cells immortal. Telomerase enzyme is responsible for the replication of telomeres to help cells maintain the chromosome length. Option D is correct as carcinogenic mutations accelerate the synthesis of telomerase enzymes as inhibition of its synthesis may cause cell death due to gradual shortening of chromosomes during each replication cycle.