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Cancer isn't linked to "aging", but rather to the nature of DNA replication. That process results in gradual accumulation of inaccuracies. Enough mutations -> c

Cancer isn't linked to "aging", but rather to the nature of DNA replication. That process results in gradual accumulation of inaccuracies. Enough mutations -> cancer.

ekianjo 13y ago
Nope, it's not about the number of mutations you get. It's also about the repair mecanisms of your DNA not working as well anymore. That's why cancer occurs more frequently with aging. I forgot the actual source link, but I remember seeing a publication showing how autopsies on young people who died of accidental circumstances showed tiny cancer tumors in their bodies even in their 20s-30s, and that simply these would not grow further because of the repair mechanisms being highly effective in younger organisms. So basically you get mutations in your body the whole time. Not just when you age.
- photorized 13y ago
  That's interesting - thanks for the explanation. I will check on that research study.
- photorized 13y ago
  reading about tumor suppressor genes... fascinating stuff. Those do seem to get worse with aging.
inkyoto 13y ago
The statement is pretty much entirely incorrect apart from the gradual accumulation of "inaccuracies". Living cells constantly attempt to repair "the inaccuracies" occurring over the course of life of a cell. Reaching a beyond repair stage leads to apoptosis, or genetically programmed cell death; in other news, the cell commits suicide. A cell turns into a cancerous cell when some of the oncogenes (namely, p53 and, likely, p16) responsible for upregulating apoptosis become silenced, and the cell continues to live in a dysfunctional state as a cancerous cell. We do not know yet what excatly causes the gene silencing. At any point in life, the human body contains a number of cancerous cells that it methodically gets rid of or neutralises, which is a normal process of life. Not every cancerous cell turns into a tumor and leads to cancer We do not know yet what causes it. Many people die of an old age and do not have cancer.

Cancer isn't linked to "aging", but rather to the nature of DNA replication. That process results in gradual accumulation of inaccuracies. Enough mutations -> cancer.

ekianjo 13y ago

Nope, it's not about the number of mutations you get. It's also about the repair mecanisms of your DNA not working as well anymore. That's why cancer occurs more frequently with aging. I forgot the actual source link, but I remember seeing a publication showing how autopsies on young people who died of accidental circumstances showed tiny cancer tumors in their bodies even in their 20s-30s, and that simply these would not grow further because of the repair mechanisms being highly effective in younger organisms. So basically you get mutations in your body the whole time. Not just when you age.

photorized 13y ago
That's interesting - thanks for the explanation. I will check on that research study.
photorized 13y ago
reading about tumor suppressor genes... fascinating stuff. Those do seem to get worse with aging.

inkyoto 13y ago

The statement is pretty much entirely incorrect apart from the gradual accumulation of "inaccuracies". Living cells constantly attempt to repair "the inaccuracies" occurring over the course of life of a cell. Reaching a beyond repair stage leads to apoptosis, or genetically programmed cell death; in other news, the cell commits suicide. A cell turns into a cancerous cell when some of the oncogenes (namely, p53 and, likely, p16) responsible for upregulating apoptosis become silenced, and the cell continues to live in a dysfunctional state as a cancerous cell. We do not know yet what excatly causes the gene silencing. At any point in life, the human body contains a number of cancerous cells that it methodically gets rid of or neutralises, which is a normal process of life. Not every cancerous cell turns into a tumor and leads to cancer We do not know yet what causes it. Many people die of an old age and do not have cancer.