Knudsen hypothesis

Knud·sen hypothesis

(nŭd'sĕn), an explanation for the bilateral, and earlier, occurrence of hereditary retinoblastoma; if one tumor suppressor gene is mutated by inheritance, only one somatic mutation is needed inactivate the other allele. In the sporadic form, two mutations, which inactivate each allele, are necessary. [Alfred G. Knudsen, contemporary U.S. geneticist]

Knud·sen hy·poth·e·sis

(nūd'sĕn hī-poth'ĕ-sis) An explanation for the bilateral (and earlier) occurrence of hereditary retinoblastoma; if one tumor suppressor gene is mutated by inheritance, only one somatic mutation is needed to inactivate the other allele. In the sporadic form, two mutations, which inactivate each allele, are necessary. [Alfred G. Knudsen, contemporary U.S. geneticist]