• Question: how can this lead to cancer?

    Asked by wadey to Kay on 15 Mar 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Kay Penicud

      Kay Penicud answered on 16 Mar 2010:

      We are made up of building blocks called cells. DNA is the instruction manual for your cells, it tells it what to do. Normally it tells your cells how much to grow, where to move to, how to communicate with the cells (so other building blocks) around it. If the DNA becomes damaged, then your cells get faulty instructions. So they start to grow out of control, this leads to tumours and cancer.

      Lots of stuff can damage your DNA, like too much sunlight and smoking. But if you fix your damaged DNA before it starts giving your cell faulty instuctions, then no cancer!

      hope that made sense – how much have you heard of DNA before?

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