oncogene

American  

[ong-kuh-jeen] / ˈɒŋ kəˌdʒin /

noun

Genetics.

1. any gene that is a causative factor in the initiation of cancerous growth.

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oncogene British  

/ ˈɒŋkəʊˌdʒiːn /

noun

1. any of several genes, first identified in viruses but present in all cells, that when abnormally activated can cause cancer

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oncogene Scientific  

/ ŏn′kə-jēn /

1. A gene that causes normal cells to become cancerous either because the gene is mutated or because the gene is expressed at the wrong time in development.

2. See Note at cancer

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oncogene Cultural  

1. Genes in animal DNA that cause cancer.

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Discover More

Every cell contains genes that, when altered slightly, can become oncogenes.

Etymology

Origin of oncogene

First recorded in 1965–70; onco- + gene

Compare meaning

How does oncogene compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• proto-oncogene vs. oncogene

Example Sentences

"We wanted to show that our siRNA is so targeted to the FLC fusion oncogene that it has no side effects on other cells -- even on other cancer cells," he notes.

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2024

TRABI-Seq is being tested on various cancer cells to determine trabectedin's efficacy in targeting tumors with advanced DNA repair capabilities, often associated with elevated transcription levels due to oncogene activation.

From Science Daily • Mar. 12, 2024

An oncogene is any gene that, when altered, leads to an increase in the rate of cell cycle progression.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

For example, HER2-positive breast cancers involve a mutated HER2 oncogene, which produces a protein that increases the growth of cancer cells.

From Nature • Mar. 24, 2020

They were attacking the cancer with a new cocktail: two chemo drugs and a protein receptor that they hoped would turn off the oncogene in Gus’s cancer.

From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green