Question

How is a cancerous cell different from a normal cell?

Answer 1

	Normal cell	Cancerous cell
1.	Normal cells show the property of contact inhibition. Therefore, when these cells come into contact with other cells, they stop dividing.	Cancerous cells lack the property of contact inhibition. Therefore, they continue to divide, thereby forming a mass of cells.
2.	They undergo differentiation after attaining a specific growth stage.	They do not undergo differentiation.
3.	These cells remain confined at a particular location.	These cells do not remain confined to a particular location. They invade neighbouring tissues and disrupt their function.
4.	Dividing cells remain confined to the part of the body where they are formed.	These cells show metastasis, i.e., they have the ability to invade new sites.
5.	Cells require extracellular growth factors.	These do not require extracellular growth factors.
6.	Tumours are not formed.	They tend to form tumours.
7.	Normal cells have a definite life span.	Cancer cells lack a definite lifespan and resist induction of cell death, thereby promoting tumour development.