The original post: /r/askscience by /u/xr10050 on 2024-10-02 23:21:23.

Given the vast number of nucleotides in a genetic sequence, there is an unfathomable number of potential mutations. Not all genetic mutations are detrimental or even viable, and a substantial portion of DNA is non-coding - but even so, it seems unrealistic to me that we can classify cancerous cells into a relatively small number of categories or types. Why aren’t all cancerous cells “unique” provided the seemingly infinite combinations of possible mutations?