Has cancer sculpted the genome? Modeling linkage and the role of tetraploidy in neoplastic progression

Carlo C. Maley, Walter Lewis, Brian J. Reid

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

The evolutionary transition from unicellular organisms to multicellular organisms with differentiated tissues included a transition in the level of organization at which natural selection acts (Maynard Smith and Szathmary 1995; Buss 1987). Mutations that cause an increase in the reproduction and survival rates in unicellular organisms give those organisms an advantage over their competitors. However, mutations that increase reproduction and survival rates in somatic cells of a multicellular organism can lead to a fatal cancer. Natural selection on multicellular organisms has led to mechanisms for suppressing somatic evolution on multiple levels, including tumor suppressor genes that regulate the growth of cells and the architecture of proliferative epithelia that limits the number of cells that are vulnerable to neoplastic evolution (Cairns 2002, 1975).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationMultiscale Cancer Modeling
PublisherCRC Press
Pages45-62
Number of pages18
ISBN (Electronic)9781439814420
ISBN (Print)9781439814406
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2010
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Mathematics
  • General Physics and Astronomy
  • General Medicine

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