BRAINCAKEBenign and Malignant Tumours
A tumour is a mass of abnormal cells formed by uncontrolled cell division (mitosis). Tumours form when the genes that regulate the cell cycle are mutated or wrongly expressed. There are two types.
Benign tumours
• grow slowly, although they can become very large
• cells stay well differentiated (specialised) and have normal nuclei
• are surrounded by a capsule, so they stay compact and are easy to remove by surgery
• do not invade surrounding tissue or spread to other parts of the body
• rarely return after removal
• are usually harmless, but can cause damage by pressing on organs or blocking tubes, for example in the brain.
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More in Control of Gene Expression
- Epigenetics
- DNA Methylation
- Histone Acetylation
- Epigenetics and Disease
- Tumour Suppressor Genes
- Oncogenes
- Abnormal Methylation and Cancer
- Oestrogen and Breast Cancer
All 18 lessons in Control of Gene Expression · All AQA A-level Biology topics