oncogenes


oncogenes

Genes that contribute to cancerous changes in cells. Oncogenes are mutations of normal cell genes and must work together to cause cancer. Similar or identical genes are found in viruses known to be able to cause cancer. If one of the three virus genes-gag, pol or env—is replaced by an oncogene, such as ras, the virus becomes capable of causing cancer. The normal ALLELES of the oncogenes are called proto-oncogenes.