Indicate whether each of the following descriptions better applies to proto-oncogenes (P) or tumor suppressor genes (T). Your answer would be a four-letter string composed of letters P and T only, e.g. PPPT.
( ) Cancer mutations in these genes are usually recessive.
( ) Cancer mutations in these genes include gene duplications.
( ) Cancer mutations in these genes are responsible for most hereditary cancers.
( ) Cancer mutations in these genes are commonly in the form of nonsense (truncating) mutations that abort protein synthesis.

Question

Indicate whether each of the following descriptions better applies to proto-oncogenes (P) or tumor suppressor genes (T). Your answer would be a four-letter string composed of letters P and T only, e.g. PPPT.
( )	Cancer mutations in these genes are usually recessive.
( )	Cancer mutations in these genes include gene duplications.
( )	Cancer mutations in these genes are responsible for most hereditary cancers.
( )	Cancer mutations in these genes are commonly in the form of nonsense (truncating) mutations that abort protein synthesis.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Truncating mutations in tumor suppressor genes can create recessive, loss-of-function mutants associated with most hereditary cancers. A proto-oncogene, in contrast, can be activated by a limited set of dominant, gain-of-function mutations (e.g. missense point mutations or other accidents such as gene duplication, which can produce an abnormally large amount of gene product).

Indicate Whether Each of the Following Descriptions Better Applies to Proto-Oncogenes