The cancer gene we all have - Michael Windelspecht
357,981 Views
22,138 Questions Answered
TEDEd Animation
Let’s Begin…
Within every cell in our body, two copies of a tumor suppressor
gene called BRCA1 are tasked with regulating the speed at which cells
divide. Michael Windelspecht explains how these genes can sometimes
mutate, making those cells less specialized and more likely to develop
into cancer.
Another class of genes, called the proto-oncogenes, function to a similar manner to the gas pedal in a car. Only a single copy of a proto-oncogene needs to be mutated in a cell for it to lose control of cell division. Why would this be the case?
Sign in to answer questionAbout TED-Ed Animations
TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »
Meet The Creators
- Educator Michael Windelspecht
- Director Michael Kalopaidis
- Artist Dinos Hadjidemetri
- Animator Maria Savva
- Sound Designer Manolis Manoli
- Producer Zedem Media
- Narrator Michelle Snow
