Lymphocyte Mutation Effects

For my project, I decided to study something involving the lymphatic and immune system section we studies in class. While doing research I came across a lot of different articles involving lymphatic cells and their correlation involving cancer. Specifically, I focused on Hodgkin’s lymphoma and what cells the cancer occurred from. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a type of cancer that directly effects the lymphatic system. It can be a very aggressive form of cancer because it is targeting our bodies natural defense system. Through research, the cells that caused Hodgkin’s lymphoma were T and B lymphocytes which are the second most common white blood cell in the body. T cells main function is to act against virus-infected cells and tumor cells. B cells give rise to plasma which produces antibodies. The most common form of Hodgkin’s lymphoma originates from the B cells in the body. Cancer occurs in cells when a genetic mutation happens. Genetic mutations happen during the division of a cell. DNA replication also known as mitosis is where these issues can occur because during DNA replication it is not uncommon for substitutions, deletions, or additions to be made. These changes usually produce a cell that doesn’t function correctly, which usually dies very quickly. Other times these mutations can lead to cells becoming cancerous. The cells that mutate and become cancerous are very dangerous. Mutated cells have the potential to live longer than healthy cells, and they are told to reproduce much more frequently. This is how cancer can spread throughout the lymphatic system rapidly.