Chemical Carcinogenesis: Understanding the Steps, Examples and Factors,With the aid of a flowchart show a possible route of a xenobiotic that could result in toxicity. (20%) b. Toxicity can lead to mutagenesis and cancer, describe two mechanisms that result in point mutations. (25%) c. Explain the steps of chemical carcinogenesis. In your answer give two examples of chemical carcinogens and two factors that may delay or inhibit carcinogenesis. (55%)

Chemical Carcinogenesis: Understanding the Steps, Examples and Factors

Chemical carcinogenesis is the process of cancer formation caused by the exposure of a living organism to a chemical carcinogen. This process is composed of a series of steps, including initiation, promotion, and progression. Initiation is the initial exposure to a carcinogenic agent, which is then metabolized, leading to a cellular response that causes a mutation in the DNA. Promotion is the sustained exposure to a carcinogenic agent, which causes the mutated cells to proliferate, leading to the formation of a tumour. Progression is the final step in the process, where the tumour grows and further mutations accumulate, leading to the formation of malignant cancer (Kaufman, 2019; Sieber et al., 2020). Two examples of chemical carcinogens include asbestos and tobacco smoke. Asbestos is a mineral fibre that is known to cause cancer in the lungs and other respiratory organs. Tobacco smoke is composed of many carcinogenic chemicals that are known to cause a variety of cancers, including lung cancer and oral cancer (Sieber et al., 2020). Cont…