You read an article on a website that suggests that there may be a new form of cancer-causing mutagen that causes the DNA backbone structure to be disrupted in its normal sequence. Using your knowledge of the structure of the DNA molecule, explain how you might hypothesize such a mutagen might impact the ability for the DNA molecule to do its job effectively.

The mutagen might alter the DNA sequence, thereby altering the accessibility to transcription factors and thus activate the expression of oncogenes involved in cell proliferation

Explanation:

The DNA molecule consists of two antiparallel strands of nucleotides that wind around each other. Each DNA strand is formed by a backbone containing sugar (deoxyribose) and phosphate groups. This arrangement allows for DNA replication and transcription (and consequently also protein synthesis) to occur. If a mutagen agent binds to DNA, this might modify its structure, thereby altering DNA replication and transcriptional activity.

supercell thunderstorms are perhaps the most violent of all thunderstorm types, and are capable of producing damaging winds, large hail, and weak-to-violent tornadoes

cells use diffusion to get substances in and out of themselves. that diffusion will occur across the cell membrane or the outer covering of the cell. because we are talking about the surface of the cell, surface area and volume are  important factors here. as a cell increases in size, its surface area and volume increase as well.  we call that the surface area to volume ratio (sa: vol).  but the catch is that  volume increases at a greater rate than surface  area. in other words, as a cell gets bigger, the sa: vol gets smaller. so a really small cell like bacteria is mostly cell membrane (surface) with very little contents (volume). a really big cell like an egg, is mostly insides with a super thin membrane. so what ends up happening is that the cell cannot efficiently diffuse all of the stuff it needs in/out to survive. therefore cell size is limited to about 100mm. so how do we make organisms bigger than 100mm? cells divide! by dividing and becoming multicellular, organisms are able to grow!   check out the diagrams i attached to see the effect of sa: vol. i hope this ! good luck!