Mitosis: The Cause of Cancer

Author’s Note: This piece is a research paper about the relationship of mitosis and cancer and I am writing this for my language arts and my science class.

Did you know that fifteen hundred people die of cancer each year? This means that four people are dying every day from cancer. Since 2008, cancer has accounted for one in every four deaths. Finally, cancer is the most common cause of death in the U.S. Obviously; cancer is not a good thing to have and all of that is due to the process of cell division or mitosis.

            

Mitosis is the usual method of cell division where two cells are resulted from another (dictionary.com).
Cancer is a disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells. You can definitely see how mitosis is related to cancer in a very large way. 

            

During cell division, gaining or losing a chromosome or DNA mutation can lead to an abnormal cell and then cancer. A chromosome is attained or lost when mitosis is not acting naturally- the common ‘rest stops’ for cells are not acknowledged or taken over by a cancer cell (Biology). DNA mutation happens when the nucleus transforms into something abnormal. The process of mitosis and the deadly disease of cancer are very relatable because cancer is created during cell division.

             

Even though the daunting process of cancer is hard to find a cure for, doctors around the world are still making their best efforts to find a solution. In the year 2010, a college professor discovered proteins that have a big influence on how cancer cells are created during mitosis (University). This was one of the first big steps into the beginning of a cure. Next, in 2011, a doctor found out that the malfunction of mitosis by anti mitotic drugs can cause mitosis failure (Orth). This is another huge step in figuring out what influences cancer. Finally, in our current year, a scientist named Kiyomitsu figured out that the nuclear protein Ran blocks the important LGN protein and therefore dynein, from attaching to the cell membrane closest to the chromosomes (Kiyomitsu).

Mitosis and the mutation of cells is the big reason in why cancer exists today. Right now, my step mom in South Carolina has breast cancer and that’s why I chose to do this research project. To treat the cancer she had to have chemotherapy and then radiation. After that, they will see if the cancer is gone and if it is, she is cancer free! Although, my step-mom is one of the lucky ones. There are 1500 deaths a year in relation to cancer and it is growing. But the doctors and scientists are working diligently hard to find a cure!