Oncogenes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of gene implicated in the transformation of normal cells into cancerous ones, often through mutations leading to increased cell proliferation and loss of growth control
2. These specific genes are known for their role in promoting tumorigenesis by driving unregulated cell division and signaling pathways when altered
3. Genes that have the potential to trigger cancer development by causing cells to grow uncontrollably when altered

Etymology: "Oncogenes" is the plural of "oncogene," a compound built from "onco-" and "gene." The first part comes from the ancient Greek "ónkos," meaning a mass or swelling, which is the root behind modern words for tumours. Scientists later used "onco-" in New Latin as a combining form for cancer-related terms, and English adopted it in that sense. The second part, "gene," is a much younger coinage. It was built to name the units of heredity, and "oncogene" simply attaches it to the cancer prefix. So the word joins an ancient Greek idea of swelling to a modern term for inherited units, and it describes genes whose changes can push cells toward uncontrolled growth.

Synonyms: cancer genes, tumor genes