The video provides an in-depth explanation of how the immune system works to prevent cancer. It starts by explaining that the immune system constantly kills cells that are about to become cancerous, a process that often goes unnoticed. It then delves into the nature of cancer, explaining that it is when corrupted cells multiply uncontrollably and can emerge from almost any type of cell in the body.
The video further explains that cancer cells stop being part of the collective and become individuals again. They start to compete for resources, destroying the organs they were part of in the process. Despite the harm they cause, cancer cells are not evil; they just follow their programming, which has been corrupted.
The video then explains the "Soul of the Cell", stating that cells have a nucleus filled with DNA, which consists of genes – instructions for how to build proteins and when to make each one. These building instructions are copied and transferred to ribosomes, where they are used to make proteins. The video explains that a corrupt gene means you get a corrupt protein.
The video then explains that DNA gets a tiny bit corrupted – it mutates – tens of thousands of times each day. Most of the time without any special cause, just by being alive. Almost all of these mutations are fixed very quickly or are not problematic. However, over time as your cells make copies of themselves, damage is accumulating.
The video then explains the three categories of genes that need to be corrupted so cancer can arise. The first key mutation is in the tumor suppressor genes, or TSGs. The second crucial mutation can happen in your oncogenes. The third crucial mutation is in your cells’ suicide switch.
The video then explains how the immune system identifies and kills corrupted cells that seem indistinguishable from healthy ones. It explains that the immune system needs to know what proteins they are making inside. To solve this, evolution came up with MHC class I molecules, a sort of display window that makes cells transparent.
The video then explains the role of Natural Killer Cells in the immune system. It explains that Natural Killer Cells are always in murder mode, patrolling the body, checking cell after cell with the intention of killing it. The video concludes by stating that almost all young cancer cells you will ever develop in your life will be killed by your immune system. However, sometimes cancer cells mutate more and get much better at fighting back. The video ends by stating that cancer is a story of an arms race, and we are on to cancer and eventually it will be eliminated once and for all.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The immune system can kill cancer cells without the person noticing.
2. Cancer cells are cells that multiply uncontrollably.
3. Cancer can emerge from almost every type of cell in the body.
4. There are hundreds of types of cancer.
5. Some cancers grow slowly, while others are aggressive.
6. Cells that become cancerous turn into something ancient and new.
7. Over billions of years, evolution has molded cells to survive and thrive in a hostile environment.
8. Cells in a multicellular being must cooperate and put the wellbeing of the collective over individual survival.
9. Cancer cells stop being part of the collective and become individuals again.
10. Cancer cells can become a new organism within the body, competing for resources and space.
11. Cells have a nucleus filled with DNA, which consists of genes that provide instructions for building proteins.
12. DNA gets corrupted tens of thousands of times each day, but most mutations are fixed quickly or are not problematic.
13. Over time, damage accumulates in DNA as cells make copies of themselves.
14. DNA damage can be increased by factors such as smoking, drinking alcohol, being obese, breathing in asbestos, and contracting a virus like HPV.
15. For many cancer cases, there is no cause other than bad luck.
16. There are three categories of genes that need to be corrupted for cancer to arise: tumor suppressor genes, oncogenes, and genes that control cell suicide.
17. Tumor suppressor genes produce control mechanisms that scan DNA for mistakes and fix them.
18. Oncogenes, when turned on, tell cells to multiply rapidly.
19. Cells have a suicide switch that triggers a controlled suicide called apoptosis when they accumulate too much damage.
20. If a cell becomes unable to fix mistakes in its genetic code, loses the ability to destroy itself, and begins to grow rapidly without restraint, it turns into a young cancer cell.
21. The immune system has specialized cells called T cells that recognize specific proteins and kill corrupted cells.
22. MHC class I molecules are a sort of display window that makes cells transparent, allowing the immune system to see what proteins they are making.
23. Natural Killer Cells patrol the body, looking for cells that have already turned into cancer or are corrupted by a virus.
24. Natural Killer Cells look for the absence of MHC class I molecules on cells, which indicates that a cell may be hiding something and should be killed.
25. Almost all young cancer cells are killed by the immune system, but sometimes cancer cells mutate and get better at fighting back.