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THE EUKARYOTIC CELL CYCLE AND

CANCER: AN OVERVIEW

ABOUT THIS HANDOUT ​This handout complements the Click and Learn “The
Eukaryotic Cell Cycle and Cancer” and is intended as a straightforward introduction
to the cell cycle and how it relates to cancer. For a more comprehensive student
handout, please see the in depth version.

PROCEDURE ​Read through the Click and Learn at

https://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/eukaryotic-cell-cycle-and- cancer​ ​to learn
about the cell cycle. Answer the questions below.

Click on the “Background” tab on the right side. Read the information
and watch the videos.

1. Why is cell division important for both unicellular and

multicellular organisms?

Unicellular organisms contain one single cell, while 

multicellular organisms contain more than one cell within 
them. Multicellular organisms need cell division to grow and to 
replace dead or damaged cells. While unicellular need cell 
division to develop into an adult, cell division is the only way 
unicellular organisms can reproduce. 

2. Why does cell division remain important to an adult organism even after it is
fully developed?

Cell division remain important to an adult organism even after it is fully 

develop because cells are renewed and wounds are healed in the process. 
Such as in our skin and gut, where cells are continuously renewed. Other 
cells have to divide to heal wounds like skin cuts or broken bones.  

3. Cells divide, differentiate, or die. What is differentiation?

The genes sent specific molecule signals to the cell, ordering it to divide or 
stop dividing. Cells also receive signals from other molecules, ordering cells 
to differentiate or die. Cells divide in order to grow and heal wounds, 
producing two identical daughter cells. A process called differentiate is 
when cells stop dividing to specialize in structure and function. When p53 
find cells that are damaged, the cells will undergo repair and continue the 
cell cycle. But if the cell was too damaged to repair, the cells will undergo a 
process called apoptosis which is the same as self destroy. 

4. What is apoptosis? What is its purpose?

Apoptosis is a process that cells undergo when cells are too damaged to repair. It 
eliminates unnecessary cells during development and removes unhealthy or 
damaged cells in the mature organism, preventing the cancer cell to reproduce. 

5. What are cell cycle regulators?

There are two types of cell cycle regulators: external and internal regulator. 
They are molecular signals that may stimulate or halt cell division, tell cells to 
differentiate or initiate cell death. 

6. What happens if cell cycle regulators don’t

function properly?

A mutated cell are able to pass through the checkpoints, dividing mutated cells 
indefinitely and form tumors. An organism may end up with too few or too many 
cells. 
Click on the purple section labeled “Cell Cycle Phases” as well as the words
“Mitosis” and “Interphase” to read an overview of the cell cycle. You can also
click on the various phases.

7. Cells go through periods of growth and division. Cell division occurs during
mitosis.  
The rest of the cell cycle is called interphase, during which
(complete the sentence)

cell grows and replicates its DNA and preparing for cell division. 

8. Fill in the details about what happens during the three phases of interphase
labeled in the diagram.
G1: Cell growth and differentiation. 
S: Duplicate the DNA. 
G2: Cell growth and preparation for cell division. 

9. In general, what is the purpose of a checkpoint in the cell cycle? ​To check if there are 
any errors with the cells and if they are ready to move on to the next phase of the cell 
cycle. 
10. What is the G0 phase of the cell cycle?

Cells that does not receive signals from the genes to reproduce stay in G0 phase until 
signal received. In this phase cell does not grow or reproduce. 

a. Which factors determine whether a cell enters G0?

When cells are in repairing process and cells does not receive signals to 
grow. 

b. Can cells leave G0?

Cells leave G0 phase when cells receive signals to reproduce and grow. 

Click on “Cell Cycle Regulators and Cancer” in the center purple circle. Read
the Regulators Overview and then read through the Cancer Overview and
watch the videos.

11. What are cell cycle regulators?

There are two types of cell cycle regulators: external and internal regulator. 
They are molecular signals that may stimulate or halt cell division, tell cells to 
differentiate or initiate cell death.

a. Stimulatory proteins are encoded by ​proto-oncogenes  

b. Examples include: ​ cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) 

c. Inhibitory proteins are encoded by ​tumor suppressor genes

d. Examples include: ​p53 

12. Cancer is the result of an improperly regulated cell cycle. Describe two reasons
why cells can form tumors.

Continuous non stopping reproduction forming tumor of cells and too little cells 
death. 

​ ene.
13. In some types of colon cancer, stem cells have a mutation in the ​APC g
What happens if the ​APC g​ ene is mutated?

The stem cells have trouble making it through the final stage of differentiation 
causes the cells to start pile up which form a tumor. As an example of a colon 
cancer which is a disease characterized by uncontrolled growth of cells within 
the large intestine. 

14. Normally, proto-oncogenes stimulate the cell cycle. What are oncogenes and
how do they affect the cell cycle?

Oncogenes are mutated versions of proto-oncogenes. They are known to increase 

stimulation in the cell cycle. 

a. To cause cancer, proto-oncogenes require ​one​ allele(s) to be mutated and

therefore are considered d
​ ominant​. The mutation results in a ​gain​ of
function.

15. Normally, tumor suppressor genes inhibit the cell cycle. How do mutated tumor
suppressor genes affect the cell cycle?
A type of tumor suppressor gene called P53 can stop the cell cycle at many 
places. Another type of tumor suppressor gene called Rb can stop the cell cycle 
in G1. Those arrested cells go to G0 phase. Mutated P53 can causes mutated 
cells to continue through the cell cycle passing checkpoint. 

a. To cause cancer, tumor suppressor genes require ​both​ allele(s) to be mutated

and . The mutation results in a ​recessive​ of therefore are considered ​in a loss of
function.
Click and Learn ​The Eukaryotic Cell Cycle and Cancer
Student Handout