oncogene
noun
on·co·gene
ˈäŋ-kō-ˌjēn 
: a gene having the potential to cause a normal cell to become cancerous
Examples of oncogene in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
When these genes mutate, they are then called oncogenes.
—
Lindsay Curtis, Health, 14 Feb. 2025
Researchers have found that people with multiple myeloma have abnormal oncogenes.
—Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 17 Jan. 2025
Mutations in the oncogenes may cause a cell to grow and divide too quickly.
—Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 17 Jan. 2025
At first scientists thought TP53 was an oncogene, meaning that mutations within it would cause cancer.
—Anna Funk, Discover Magazine, 17 May 2021
Traditional treatments use mutation location To attempt to answer this question, our research team chose to focus on one oncogene in lung cancer, EGFR, or epidermal growth factor receptor.
—Jacqulyne Robichaux, The Conversation, 25 Oct. 2021
The mutation that transforms KRAS into an oncogene locks the protein into an active state, permanently bound to GTP, causing cells to grow uncontrollably.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 16 June 2021
In the case of cancer, this means some cells wind up with more oncogenes than the others.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2019
The cancer genes, called oncogenes, were not malignant in themselves, Dr. Leder and his research team concluded.
—Matt Schudel, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2020
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Lindsay Curtis, Health, 14 Feb. 2025
Researchers have found that people with multiple myeloma have abnormal oncogenes.
—Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 17 Jan. 2025
Mutations in the oncogenes may cause a cell to grow and divide too quickly.
—Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 17 Jan. 2025
At first scientists thought TP53 was an oncogene, meaning that mutations within it would cause cancer.
—Anna Funk, Discover Magazine, 17 May 2021
Traditional treatments use mutation location To attempt to answer this question, our research team chose to focus on one oncogene in lung cancer, EGFR, or epidermal growth factor receptor.
—Jacqulyne Robichaux, The Conversation, 25 Oct. 2021
The mutation that transforms KRAS into an oncogene locks the protein into an active state, permanently bound to GTP, causing cells to grow uncontrollably.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 16 June 2021
In the case of cancer, this means some cells wind up with more oncogenes than the others.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2019
The cancer genes, called oncogenes, were not malignant in themselves, Dr. Leder and his research team concluded.
—Matt Schudel, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Oncogene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oncogene. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
oncogene
noun
on·co·gene
ˈäŋ-kō-ˌjēn
: a gene having the potential to cause a normal cell to become cancerous
Medical Definition
oncogene
noun
on·co·gene
ˈäŋ-kō-ˌjēn
: a gene having the potential to cause a normal cell to become cancerous
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