An oncogene is a mutated form of a normal cellular gene — called a proto-oncogene — that contributes to the development of a cancer. Proto-oncogenes typically regulate cell growth and cell differentiation. Most proto-oncogenes are highly conserved in evolutionarily diverse species, underscoring the fact that genes of this class play central roles in fundamental cellular processes. Mutations of protooncogenes that cause their conversion to oncogenes cause many of the perturbations in cell growth and differentiation that are commonly seen in cancer cells.
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(2008). Oncogenes. In: Principles of Cancer Genetics. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6784-6_2
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