A disease characterized by uncontrolled growth and division of body cells.

Study for the PLTW Medical Detectives Exam. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your test and excel!

Multiple Choice

A disease characterized by uncontrolled growth and division of body cells.

Explanation:
Uncontrolled growth and division of body cells points to cancer. When cells accumulate genetic changes, the normal brakes on the cell cycle are lost, so cells keep dividing, don’t die when they should, and can form a mass. These cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and spread to distant parts of the body, which is why cancer behaves differently from most other diseases. This description differs from infections, which come from invading microbes, autoimmune diseases, where the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, and allergies, where the immune system overreacts to harmless substances.

Uncontrolled growth and division of body cells points to cancer. When cells accumulate genetic changes, the normal brakes on the cell cycle are lost, so cells keep dividing, don’t die when they should, and can form a mass. These cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and spread to distant parts of the body, which is why cancer behaves differently from most other diseases. This description differs from infections, which come from invading microbes, autoimmune diseases, where the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, and allergies, where the immune system overreacts to harmless substances.

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