this post was submitted on 03 Oct 2024
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How can there be “types” of cancer? (zerobytes.monster)
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The original post: /r/askscience by /u/xr10050 on 2024-10-02 23:21:23.

Given the vast number of nucleotides in a genetic sequence, there is an unfathomable number of potential mutations. Not all genetic mutations are detrimental or even viable, and a substantial portion of DNA is non-coding - but even so, it seems unrealistic to me that we can classify cancerous cells into a relatively small number of categories or types. Why aren’t all cancerous cells “unique” provided the seemingly infinite combinations of possible mutations?

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