If You Were to Think of the Cell as a Car

question 56

Multiple Choice

If you were to think of the cell as a car, and mitosis as a process that drives that car to go, what would be a good analogy for a cell that has a mutation in both copies of a tumor-suppressor gene?

• A)The gas pedal of a car gets stuck while pushed down.
• B)The gas pedal of a car does not work at all.
• C)The brake pedal of a car gets stuck while pushed down.
• D)The brake pedal of a car does not work at all. Tumor suppressor genes are like the brakes on the cell cycle.Normally, they prevent cell division in response to problems, such as damaged DNA or incomplete replication.If both copies of a tumor suppressor gene are mutated, that would mean that a cell could not stop dividing in response to normal signals.This is analogous to cutting the brakes on a car.No matter what "signals" emerge (a stop sign, a red light, etc.), it is not possible to stop the car using the brake because there is something wrong with the brakes.

---

Definitions:

Unlearned Response

A natural, innate reaction to a stimulus that occurs without the need for prior experience or learning.

Classical Conditioning

A learning process that pairs a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to trigger an involuntary response.

Desensitization

The type of sensory adaptation in which we become less sensitive to constant stimuli. Also called negative adaptation.

Reinforcement Schedules

The strategies implemented in the timing and frequency of reinforcing stimuli following desired behaviors.