Re: LNT Remarks

[Scott Crail <crail@ENGR.ORST.EDU>]

I didnt like my answer before so I did some digging ....

factors in causing cancer:

1.  proto oncogenes - used to be thought that these were the primary cause 
of cancer, but they do have specific functions in normal cells.  Theys 
cause problems when misexpressed, at too high of a level, in wrong cell 
type, ect.
2.  mutations
3.  lack of tumor supressor gene - thought to actively supress cancer in 
genes that want to be cancerous due to the abovbe mentioned causes.  
Usually makes a protein called p53.  This protein is a sort of wonder 
protein.. it is involved in all kinds of processes.

If you want more details see"Molecular Biology of the Cell" 3rd ed. 
Garland Publishing, New York. 1993 its a great reference that is fairly 
understandable for someone that is not a molecular biologist...at least I 
could understand it.

For any radiobiologist out there...I hope I didnt slaughter the theory too 
badly!

Scott Crail			
HP Grad Student, Oregon State Un.
crail@engr.orst.edu