What are Oncogenes? Biocare Basics

Biocare Basics: Oncogenes

An oncogene is a mutated gene that has the potential to cause cancer as a result of the mutation. Oncogenes start as proto-oncogenes, a term for normal, unmutated genes that help regulate normal cell growth, division, proliferation, and programmed cell death. Because cancer is a disease characterized by abnormal, unchecked cell growth, mutations in any of these regulating proto-oncogenes can cause these processes to spiral out of control, creating the potential for cancer. The mutated copy of the proto-oncogene is then called an oncogene.

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