Unit 3 Interactive Review Dashboard

Cancer Basics

Cancer is uncontrolled cell division. Cancer cells can crowd out normal cells, damage tissues, and disrupt organ systems.

Quick Check

Notebook Discussion Prompts

1. How are cancer cells different from non-cancer cells?
2. How can cancer disrupt normal tissue or organ function?
3. Why is metastasis an important word when describing cancer?

Patterns & Evidence

Scientists use data to notice patterns about who gets cancer and why. In this unit, major patterns included age, height, environment, and animal evidence.

Age

Older people have had more time for cells to divide and more chances for DNA mistakes to build up.

Height

Taller people generally have more cells, which means more total cell divisions and more chances for mutation.

Environment

Pollution, smoking, radiation, and other factors can increase mutation rates or cancer risk.

Peto’s Paradox

Large, long-lived animals were expected to get more cancer because they have more cells and more cell divisions. But whales and elephants have low cancer rates, raising a new question: what protects them?

Elephants & p53

Elephants have many copies of p53 compared with humans. More p53 protection may help damaged cells get repaired or destroyed before cancer develops.

Cell Cycle & p53

The cell cycle explains how one cell becomes two cells. Checkpoints help prevent damaged cells from dividing.

p53 as a Checkpoint Protein

• Checks whether the cell is ready to continue.
• Helps detect and repair DNA errors.
• Can stop the cell cycle or lead to cell destruction if damage is serious.

When p53 Fails

If p53 does not work correctly, cells may skip checkpoints and divide with damaged DNA. This can produce abnormal daughter cells and contribute to cancer.

Model Prompt

Explain what the Divide & Conquer game represented. Include phases, checkpoints, p53, and what happened when checkpoints were skipped.

DNA Structure

DNA is a double helix made of repeating units called nucleotides. Each nucleotide has a sugar, phosphate, and base.

Base Pairing

Chargaff’s Rule

The amount of adenine is about equal to thymine, and the amount of guanine is about equal to cytosine.

If A = 24%, then T = 24%.

Structure → Function

DNA can unzip because the bases are paired in the center. Each side can be used as a template to build a new matching strand.

Complement Builder

Type a DNA sequence using A, T, G, and C. The dashboard will build the complementary strand.

Complement: —

DNA Replication & Mutations

DNA replication happens during S phase. DNA unwinds and unzips, then complementary bases are added to create new copies.

Replication Steps

1. DNA unwinds and unzips.
2. Each original strand acts as a template.
3. Complementary bases pair with exposed bases.
4. Two DNA molecules form.

Mutation Types

Mutation Analyzer

Compare two DNA sequences. This simple tool looks for a basic substitution, insertion, deletion, or no change.

Likely mutation type: —

DNA → RNA → Protein

DNA stores information. During transcription, DNA is copied into RNA. During translation, RNA codons are read to build a chain of amino acids, which folds into a protein.

Transcription Rules

Translation Rules

• RNA is read in groups of 3 called codons.
• AUG is the start codon and codes for methionine.
• Stop codons tell the ribosome to stop building the protein.
• The order of amino acids affects protein shape and function.

Transcription & Translation Tool

Enter a DNA template sequence. The tool will transcribe it into RNA and translate common codons used in this review.

RNA: —

Amino acids: —

Structure → Function Transfer

Use this sentence frame for new examples: A change in DNA can change an RNA codon. That can change an amino acid. A different amino acid can change protein shape, and protein shape affects protein function.

Flashcards

Practice Quiz Auto Check

Collaborative Review Questions

1. Explain how cancer can begin with a DNA replication mistake.
2. Why are frameshift mutations often more serious than silent mutations?
3. How does DNA structure make replication possible?
4. How does p53 connect the cell cycle and DNA repair?
5. How can one DNA change lead to a disease symptom?

Final Synthesis

Prompt: How do cancer cells end up with different chromosomes, and what is the role of p53 in preventing this?

Your explanation should include DNA structure, DNA replication during S phase, mutations, chromosome differences, p53 repair/checkpoints, and cell division.

Strong Answer Checklist

• Mentions S phase and DNA replication.
• Explains that mutations are changes or mistakes in DNA.
• Explains how mutations can lead to chromosome differences.
• Explains that p53 helps detect/repair mistakes or stop the cell.
• Connects failed repair/checkpoints to cancer.

Useful Sentence Frame

During S phase, DNA is copied. Sometimes mistakes happen when bases are mismatched. These mistakes are mutations. Normally, p53 helps detect and repair DNA problems or stops the cell from dividing. If p53 fails, the cell may divide with damaged DNA, producing cells with differences in chromosomes. If those cells continue dividing uncontrollably, cancer can develop.

Hard Mode Practice

Toggle hard mode to answer higher-level application questions similar to test performance tasks.

Transcription & Translation Quiz

Practice converting DNA → RNA → Protein and check your answers instantly.

RNA:

Amino Acids:

Performance Task Simulator

Simulate a test-style task: explain how a DNA mutation leads to disease.

Common Mistakes Mode

Study the mistakes students most often make, then explain how to avoid them.

Timed Test Simulation

Practice under test-like conditions. You get 15 seconds per question. Feedback appears at the end.

Step-by-Step DNA Trainer

Work through DNA → RNA → codons → amino acids one step at a time.

DNA template: TAC GGA CTT

Explain Like the Test

Build a strong constructed response one part at a time.

Real-World Case Practice

Apply the unit model to new situations.

Quick Review Mode

Use this for a fast review before the test.

1. Cancer = uncontrolled cell division.
2. Malignant tumors invade and can metastasize.
3. S phase = DNA replication.
4. p53 checks for DNA damage and can repair/stop/destroy cells.
5. DNA structure: sugar-phosphate sides, base-pair rungs, A-T and G-C.
6. Mutation = change in DNA sequence.
7. DNA → RNA → codons → amino acids → protein → function.
8. Frameshift mutations often have large effects.
9. Protein shape affects protein function.
10. More cell divisions means more chances for mutations.

Teacher Mode

Use this when projecting the dashboard. Teacher Mode reveals example answers and pacing notes.