Viruses may cause cancer in these three typical ways:

Question

_____  Some viruses encode an oncogene in their genome.
_____  A viral genome may integrate into the host chromosome, disrupting a cell cycle gene.
_____  Some viral proteins interact with cell cycle regulatory proteins.
_____  Viral infection provides large amounts of nutrients, encouraging the cell to divide and proliferate.
_____  All viruses promote host cell proliferation, as a way to spread more virus.
_____  Cell proliferation is an adaptive response of the host to any viral infection, to outgrow the virus.
_____  When a DNAvirus brings extra DNA into the host cell, that signals that S phase is complete.

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
· What type of thinking is required?
 
Gather Content
· What do you already know about the link between viruses and cancer?
  Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
  Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?

Answer 1

__X__  Some viruses encode an oncogene in their genome.
__X__  A viral genome may integrate into the host chromosome, disrupting a cell cycle gene.
__X__  Some viral proteins interact with cell cycle regulatory proteins.
_____  Viral infection provides large amounts of nutrients, encouraging the cell to divide and proliferate.
_____  All viruses promote host cell proliferation, as a way to spread more virus.
_____  Cell proliferation is an adaptive response of the host to any viral infection, to outgrow the virus.
_____  When a DNAvirus brings extra DNA into the host cell, that signals that S phase is complete.

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o This question addresses the link between viruses and cancer.
· What type of thinking is required?
        o This question is asking you to take what you already know and apply it to this unfamiliar situation.
 
Gather Content
· What do you already know about the link between viruses and cancer?
        o Some viruses can cause cancer. Hepatitis B can cause liver cancer, and some strains of human papillomaviruses can infect the cervix and cause cervical carcinoma.
  Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        o Sometimes viral proteins interfere with the regulation of oncogene expression.
        o Or, the integration of a viral genome into a host chromosome may disrupt a gene required  to control  the cell cycle.
        o Finally, some viruses actually encode oncogenes.  
  Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
        o The question required you to take what you already know and apply it to this unfamiliar situation.
        o Did you recognize that a viral protein can directly interfere with cell cycle regulators?
        o Did you realize that when the viral genome integrates, it can disrupt a cell cycle regulatory gene?
        o Did you know that some viruses even encode oncogenes?