If DNA inside a cell is damaged, a protein called p53 halts the cell cycle. With this in mind, explain how a p53 gene mutation could cause cancer to develop.

Cancer cells have damaged or mutated DNA. If p53 was functioning, it would stop the cell cycle and ensure damaged cells did not multiply. However, if the gene coding for p53 is faulty, cell division would not be inhibited and the cell will finish the cell cycle. Uncontrolled division of damaged cells like this can lead to cancer.