How Can Smoking Cause Lung Cancer

The video discusses the carcinogenic effects of smoking, focusing on benzopyrene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon found in cigarettes. It explains how benzopyrene is metabolized in the body, leading to DNA mutations that can cause cancer. The process involves enzymes like cytochrome P-450 and epoxide hydrolase, which convert benzopyrene into a form that can bind to DNA, causing damage. The video also covers the cellular response to DNA damage, including repair mechanisms and the role of P53 in apoptosis. Chronic exposure to benzopyrene increases the risk of mutations and cancer.

How does the activation of P53 relate to the cell's response to DNA damage?

What are the potential consequences of a mutation in a gene that promotes apoptosis?

Discuss the implications of chronic exposure to benzopyrene on cancer development.