What mistakes can occur during cell division? Normally, the cell's 46 chromosomes are arranged in pairs of different size
chromosomes. However in cases of Down Syndrome, children are born with an extra copy of chromosome 21.
In order for the body to properly function, the body's ten trillion cells must act cooperatively. In general, the body's
cells behave well and consistently, dividing only when they are told to, not straying far from their designated place of origin, and
carefully tracking their chromosomes. However, when cells undergo mutations, they can convert to cancer. Cancer cells disobey the rules of
proper cellular behavior and divide at will, remaining alive even after they misbehave and wander throughout body, settling in a new
part of the body and metastasizing into a new tumor. These cells are careless with chromosomes, causing the individuals with cancer to
have incorrect chromosomal proportions. Although it only requires one mutated cell to become a tumor cell, our bodies generally do a
good job at preventing this sort of defect.
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