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Title: The terms proto-oncogene and oncogene may give the misleading impression that th Post by: barry on Jul 18, 2012 The terms proto-oncogene and oncogene may give the misleading impression that these are "genes for cancer" that are waiting to be turned on. What are these genes, in terms of normal function, and what name might have been given to them to reflect this function rather than their role in cancer?
Title: Re: The terms proto-oncogene and oncogene may give the misleading impression that th Post by: leggs on Jul 18, 2012 "Most oncogenes are mutations of certain normal genes called proto-oncogenes. Protooncogenes are the "good" genes that normally control what kind of cell it is and how often it divides. When a proto-oncogene mutates (changes) into an oncogene, it becomes a "bad" gene that can become permanently turned on or activated when it is not supposed to be. When this happens, the cell grows out of control, which can lead to cancer."
this is quoted directed from an American Cancer Society PDF, but this is my first post so it won't let me post the link... Perhaps they should be called Growth Regulation Genes instead Title: Re: The terms proto-oncogene and oncogene may give the misleading impression that th Post by: duddy on Jul 18, 2012 Proto-oncogene products play a role in cell growth or the cell cycle. Examples discussed in this chapter include growth factors, protein kinases, and membrane-associated G proteins. Had they not been discovered in defective form as oncogenes, they would be named more precisely for their function.
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