Investigating the Effect of Genetics in Cancer

Researchers estimate that each cell contains 30,000 different genes. Within each cell, genes are located on chromosomes. Chromosomes are the thread-like structures in cells that contain genes. There are 46 chromosomes, arranged in 2 sets of 23. You inherit one set from your mother and one from your father. One chromosome in each set determines whether you are female or male. The other 22 chromosome pairs determine other physical characteristics. These chromosome pairs are called autosomes. Genes control how your cells work by making proteins. The proteins have specific functions and act as messengers for the cell. Each gene must have the correct instructions for making its protein. This allows the protein to perform the correct function for the cell. All cancers begin when one or more genes in a cell mutate. A mutation is a change. It creates an abnormal protein. Or it may prevent a protein's formation. An abnormal protein provides different information than a normal protein. This can cause cells to multiply uncontrollably and become cancerous. Cancer caused by germline mutations is called inherited cancer. It accounts for about 5% to 20% of all cancers.