[Campbell Biology P.301] A key difference between cancer cells and normal cells is their res... | Practice Question

A key difference between cancer cells and normal cells is their response to density-dependent inhibition. What does this mean for cancer cells?

  • A: They stop dividing when they come into contact with other cells.
  • B: They continue to divide even when they are tightly packed together.
  • C: They require growth factors to initiate division.
  • D: They are unable to synthesize their own cyclins.

Explanation

Normal cells exhibit density-dependent inhibition, meaning they stop dividing when the cell population reaches a certain density. Cancer cells, however, lose this control and will continue to divide, piling up on top of each other, which is consistent with question 3 on the provided page.