Meaning & use
Proto-oncogene
Last updated
A normal gene that can become a cancer-causing oncogene due to mutation or increased expression.
See it in a sentence
Mutations in a proto-oncogene can trigger uncontrolled cell division and lead to cancer.
Researchers identified a proto-oncogene linked to several types of leukemia.
A note on using this word
The prefix 'proto-' indicates a precursor: in its normal state the gene regulates cell growth, but certain changes can convert it into a cancer-driving oncogene.
Words with an opposite meaning
tumor suppressor gene
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