Transformation and Oncogenesis

Transformation and
Oncogenesis

To the tune of “Enchanted” by Taylor Swift

[Verse 1] 
Transformed cell properties
Include growing indefinitely
Lack anchorage dependence
They lack contact inhibition
Have colony formation
And less growth factor requirements 
These cells are immortal

[Verse 2] 
Transformation precedes cancer
But there must be further
Mutations in the genome
Neither is a requirement
For viral replication
A mistake in the life cycle
These cells are immortal
And will infinitely cycle

[Chorus] 
CPE must be eliminated
As with viral replication
The infectious cycle does not complete
The cell must divide infinitely

 [Verse 3]
For retroviruses
An issue with integration
The 3’ LTR is deleted
Transcription can continue through
The host genome too
And when other cells are infected
This gene will be inserted
Without control mechanisms

[Chorus] 
CPE must be eliminated
As with viral replication
The infectious cycle does not complete  
This is not successful for the virus
Since it cannot go on and infect
The infectious cycle does not complete
The cell must divide infinitely

[Bridge]  
Following infection of semi-permissive cells
There is the expression of the early genes
But there is no expression of the late genes
These cells divide infinitely
Transformation of cells is quite rare
It requires unlikely events
Transformation of cells is quite rare
It requires unlikely events

 [Chorus]
CPE must be eliminated
As with viral replication
The infectious cycle does not complete
This is not successful for the virus
Since it cannot go on and infect
The infectious cycle does not complete
The cell must divide infinitely