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Are chromosomes linked to cancer?
When cells multiply, each new cell usually gets an exact copy of all 46 chromosomes (23 pairs). But in a cancer cell this genetic copying process often goes out of control. Scientists can identify some cancers just by looking for typical changes in the chromosomes: pieces are often missing, duplicated or rearranged.Enlarge
Normal chromosomes (above) and rearranged chromosomes from a cancer cell (below).
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