AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The size and shape of the nucleus of a cancer cell is often abnormal. Typically, the nucleus of a cancer cell is larger and darker than that of a normal cell and its size can vary greatly.

Detailed explanation-2: -In contrast to normal cells, cancer cells often exhibit much more variability in cell size-some are larger than normal and some are smaller than normal. In addition, cancer cells often have an abnormal shape-both the cell and the nucleus (the “brain” of the cell.)

Detailed explanation-3: -"In general, cancer cells have larger nuclei than normal cells, ” says Fernando U. Garcia, MD, Pathologist at our hospital in Philadelphia. “This is mainly due to alterations in the DNA that have resulted in the development of cancer.

Detailed explanation-4: -For instance, cancer cells: grow in the absence of signals telling them to grow. Normal cells only grow when they receive such signals. ignore signals that normally tell cells to stop dividing or to die (a process known as programmed cell death, or apoptosis).

Detailed explanation-5: -In general, cancer cell lines of solid tumors are much larger than leukocytes (Table 2). Measured in cell suspension under microscopes, the mean diameters of 15 cancer cell lines commonly used in our laboratory are between 15 and 25 m, significantly larger than those of leukocytes [37].