Cancer causing genes are called ________.

a. transformation genes

b. tumor suppressor genes

c. oncogenes

d. mutated genes

Proto-oncogenes are the genes that encode the positive cell-cycle regulators. Normal genes called proto-oncogenes can mutate to become oncogenes, or genes that make a cell become cancer.

Oncogenes

• These transform a malignant cell into a healthy cell.
• It is unknown if these gene mutations are inherited.

• The opposing side of cell growth control is represented by tumour suppressor genes, which typically operate to prevent tumour development and cell proliferation.
• A gene that has been altered involves the expression of foreign genes in the host gene.
• A gene that has undergone mutation is one that has lost, acquired, or exchanged some of the genetic material from its parent, altering it in a way that makes it permanently transmissible.