An oncogene is more likely to lead to cancer than a mutant tumor suppressor because

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Oncogenes are genes that promote cell growth and proliferation. A gain of function mutation in an oncogene only needs to occur in one allele to disrupt control of the cell cycle and promote unregulated cell division, increasing the likelihood of cancer development. on the other hand, tumor suppressor genes typically function to inhibit cell growth or promote apoptosis, so a loss of function mutation in these genes can also lead to uncontrolled cell division and cancer. However, a gain of function mutation in a tumor suppressor gene has the opposite effect and can actually promote the cell cycle, potentially increasing the risk of cancer development. Therefore, option A is the most appropriate answer.

An Oncogene Is More Likely to Lead to Cancer Than