What term describes substances capable of causing cancer?

What term describes substances capable of causing cancer?

• A. Mutagen
• B. Carcinogen
• C. Teratogen
• D. Toxin

Answer: (B)

Carcinogens are substances that can cause cancer by damaging DNA or promoting the cellular changes that lead to malignant transformation. They can act directly by altering genetic material or indirectly by creating an environment that favors uncontrolled cell growth. That makes carcinogen the specific term for anything capable of initiating or promoting cancer. Mutagens also affect DNA, increasing mutation rates, and many carcinogens are mutagenic, but not every mutagen necessarily results in cancer in every context. Teratogens cause birth defects, not cancer. Toxins are poisonous substances in general, and while some toxins may be carcinogenic, the carrier term focused on cancer-causing potential is carcinogen.

Carcinogens are substances that can cause cancer by damaging DNA or promoting the cellular changes that lead to malignant transformation. They can act directly by altering genetic material or indirectly by creating an environment that favors uncontrolled cell growth. That makes carcinogen the specific term for anything capable of initiating or promoting cancer.

Mutagens also affect DNA, increasing mutation rates, and many carcinogens are mutagenic, but not every mutagen necessarily results in cancer in every context. Teratogens cause birth defects, not cancer. Toxins are poisonous substances in general, and while some toxins may be carcinogenic, the carrier term focused on cancer-causing potential is carcinogen.