h. What are epigenetic changes? How may these contribute to the development of cancer? Describe the mechanism by which methylation of -G-C- sites may contribute to the formation of cancerous cells. i. What are the six hallmarks of cancer, and what enabling trait allows cells to acquire the six hallmarks? Solution Ques-1: What are epigenetic changes? How may these contribute to the development of cancer? Epigenetic inheritance can be defined as the process in which complete heritable phenotypic individual is resulted from chromosomal alterations but there will be no more changes in the DNA sequence followed by differential gene expression of the phenotype. Recent research has illustrated that epigenetic inheritance is involves both mitotically and meiotically. However, mitotic or somatic inheritance is higher because of no reprogramming events of altered chromatin. In meiosis for gametogenesis, a lot of reprogramming events to repair \"alterations in chromatic\" has involved for altered cpG islands in both sperm cells and oocytes result in no inheritance propagation from generation to generation. For instance, Epigenetic alterations can be produced due to the exposure to the environment, in case of mice; dietary nutritional additives can induce gene express of agouti gene, further result in the improper fur color and increased level of cancer growth. Ques-2: Describe the mechanism by which methylation of -G-C- sites may contribute to the formation of cancerous cells. Epigenetic changes in chromatin structure that affects gene expression. The epigenetic changes involves in the viable gene expression inside the cells due to methylated -G-C- sites on DNA with differential pattern finally silencing of large number of genes approximately 550 genes (CpG dinucleotides) chemically methylated and modified to change the gene expression. These events are leading to generation of abnormal phenotypes of cells finally become neoplastic & undergoes metastasis Que-3: What are the six hallmarks of cancer, and what enabling trait allows cells to acquire the six hallmarks? Invasion is mainly due to presence of cell adhesion molecules such as integrins on the cancer cells finally promote the movement of cancer cells to another region. This process is going to connect adjacent cells to tumor cells finally undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition Intravastation is the process in which cancer cells undergoes metastasis to enter into “blood or lymph stream” and these cancer cells secrete metalloprotenases, proteases to degrade basement membrane of the stromal surface for endothelial migration. Sometimes, these cancer cells are going to promote angiogenesis (synthesis of blood vessels) towards them to obtain nutrients Extravasation is the process in which cancer cells are going to undergoes metastasis and “escape from lymphatic vessels or blood vessel” by detaching from endothelium Six hallmarks of cancer: Self sufficiency in generating growth signals, insensitivity .