Cancer Bio - One Renegade Cell

Used bacteria to find carcinogens and determined how strong of a mutagen the chemical was. This test faced the problem of its applicability to humans.

Bladder carcinoma's point mutation. His work led to the first isolation of an oncogene.

Looked at Rous sarcoma virus RSV, led to the src gene, which induced cancerous growth. Showed RSV hijacked src gene from chicken and spread to others. With Varmus.

Found genetic sequence of telomeres to be a repeated TTAGGC. Telomerase copies telomeres because DNA polymerase cannot copy the ends properly.

Extended list of tumor genomes carrying info for malignant growth. Bladder carcinoma, colon carcinoma, nerve cell tumor. Introduction into normal mouse cells caused cancerous transformation. 1 single change to develop oncogene, but did not cause cancer. With Wigler.

Discovered base pairing on DNA. A always matched with T, C always matches with G. With Watson.

Survival of the fittest. Mutations cause heterozygous populations, most favorable genes passed on more. Relates to cancer: cancer cells out divide normal cells.

2 genes paired copies of gene on 13th chromosome (Rb). Without either there was no control over cell proliferation, isolated by gene cloning.

Found cancer cells secret angiogenic factors such as VEGF and bFGF to encourage growth of capillaries to nourish cancer cells.

Practiced cell hybridization. It was found that when a normal and a cancer cell were hybriized, the normal genes were dominant while the cancer genes were recessive.

2 gene mutations were required to strike retinal cell before retinoblastoma occurred. In familial strains, 1 mutation is already present in the DNA inherited from the parent.

Lethal diseases traced back to viruses and bacteria with Pastuer.

Found the ends of DNA to contain telomeres, genetic nonsense that protects the ends of DNA from loss of important genes. With Muller.

Found traits to be inheritable. Genotype to phenotype.

Found that environmental agents can mutate and, if the germ cells are affected, can pass the mutation to progeny. Also found telomeres with McClintock.