The Broken Gene That Promotes Advanced Cancer
The gene SIGLEC12 has a uniquely human mutation that, when expressed, correlates with advanced carcinomas
Cancer and humans
Following heart disease, cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide (on global average, about 1 in 5 of us will have to face these rebellious cells). Cancer occurs when a cell begins to divide uncontrollably and foregoes the normal rules of growth and development.
(For a short story about the life of a cancer cell, check out ‘Divide and Conquer’.)
At its root, the cause of cancer is a collection of mutations. Mutations happen when something goes wrong with copying the DNA during cell division. (That doesn’t mean that all mutations are bad, but that’s another story.)
There are also external substances that cause mutations. Excessive exposure to UV light (such as blaring sunlight or, even worse, tanning beds) is strongly linked to an increased chance of developing skin cancer, and things such as air pollution and processed meat, are linked to lung cancer and colorectal cancer, respectively. Our gut microbiome influences cancer risk as well, and could even be leveraged to improve chemotherapy.
