oncogene
/ˈɑŋkəˌdʒin/
noun
- A gene that can cause a normal cell to become cancerous when it is mutated or expressed at high levels.
- The research team is studying how to block the activity of this oncogene to stop cancer growth.
- Mutations in an oncogene can turn a healthy cell into a tumor cell.
- Scientists discovered that a specific oncogene is responsible for many cases of lung cancer.