The sputum (fluid coughed up from the lungs) of many smokers contain cells with mutations in the genes for p53. The smoking-induced mutations appear to be an early signal showing that cancer of the lungs will follow. What is the likely relationship between early p53 mutation and the development of lung cancer

The correct answer would be - mutations in the p53 would prevent abnormal cells from dying by apoptosis.

Explanation:

P53 or tumor protein 53 gene is the gene that produces a protein that controls DNA repair and apoptosis in the cell cycle if there is an error in the DNA or cells growing abnormally therefore known as tumor suppressor gene.

If there is a mutation in this gene will prevent it from performing its function of DNA repair or stimulating apoptosis and then p53 would prevent abnormal cells from dying by apoptosis.

Thus, the mutation in P53 would lead to the growth or development of lung cancer.

the sugar-phosphate backbone forms the structural framework of nucleic acids, including dna and rna. this backbone is composed of alternating sugar and phosphate groups, and defines directionality of the molecule.