Which statement best describes the normal role of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in the body?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Topic context: BRCA1 and BRCA2 are tumor suppressor genes involved in maintaining genomic stability, particularly through DNA repair mechanisms. 
Option 1: 'They induce programmed death in healthy cells.' While there are cellular pathways that regulate cell death, BRCA1/BRCA2 are not described as primary inducers of apoptosis in normal healthy cells. Their main recognized role is DNA repair, not triggering widespread apoptosis. 
Option 2: 'They regulate breast hormone production.' BRCA genes are not direct regulators of hormone production; their established function relates to DNA repair and genome maintenance rather than endocrine regulation. 
Option 3: 'They suppress immune system activation.' This is not a canonical function attributed to BRCA1/BRCA2; their role is genetic stability, not broad immune modulation. 
Option 4: 'They facilitate repair of double-strand DNA breaks.' This aligns with the core function of BRCA1/BRCA2, which participate in homologous recombination repair of double-strand breaks, helping to preserve genomic integrity. 
Option 5: 'They promote uncontrolled cell cycle progression.' On the contrary, BRCA genes act as safeguards against uncontrolled growth; loss of BRCA function tends to contribute to genomic instability and cancer risk, not promotion of unchecked cell cycling. 
Bringing it together: option 4 directly matches the well-established biological role of BRCA1 and BRCA2 in repairing double-strand DNA breaks via homologous recombination, which is fundamental to their description as tumor suppressor genes. The other options misstate or misattribute their primary functions, reflecting common misconceptions about hormone regulation, immune signaling, apoptosis initiation in normal cells, or uncontrolled proliferation as BRCA-driven processes.

MEDS2013 (ND) Quiz 1- Thurs PM

Which statement best describes the normal role of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in the body?

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