In skin cells, single base pair mutations have been associated with the development of a type of skin cancer. Scientists first noticed this mutation in people who are frequently exposed to ultraviolet radiation from the Sun or tanning beds. This mutation occurs in a gene that codes for a protein which regulates cell division.

Question

Which two statements describe a causal relationship between this mutation and skin cancer rather than a correlational relationship? Move two statements that describe a causal relationship between the mutation and skin cancer to the box.

People who develop the mutation have a greater chance of developing this type of cancer.

The change of a single base pair codes for proline as the fifth amino acid instead of histidine.

The mutation changes the resulting protein so that it can no longer control when a cell divides.

This mutation is found at a higher rate among people who are exposed to ultraviolet radiation frequently.

Answer 1

To establish a causal relationship between the mutation and skin cancer, the two statements that should be moved to the box are:

1. The mutation changes the resulting protein so that it can no longer control when a cell divides.
2. People who develop the mutation have a greater chance of developing this type of cancer.

These statements indicate a direct effect of the mutation on the function of the protein and the associated risk of developing cancer, supporting a causal relationship.