oncogene

noun

on·​co·​gene ˈäŋ-kō-ˌjēn How to pronounce oncogene (audio)
: a gene having the potential to cause a normal cell to become cancerous

Examples of oncogene in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web 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 Daughter cells with more copies of these oncogenes grow faster, as do their descendants, Mischel said. San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2019 The drug targets overexpressed estrogen receptors that can be predicted by the Her-2/Neu oncogene, which was discovered more than a decade earlier. Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2019 This allows mutated cancer-promoting genes called oncogenes to activate cell surface receptors, molecular portals to the cell’s interior. San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oncogene.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

onco- + gene

First Known Use

1969, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of oncogene was in 1969

Dictionary Entries Near oncogene

Cite this Entry

“Oncogene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oncogene. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

oncogene

noun
on·​co·​gene ˈäŋ-kō-ˌjēn How to pronounce oncogene (audio)
: a gene having the potential to cause a normal cell to become cancerous

Medical Definition

oncogene

noun
on·​co·​gene ˈäŋ-kō-ˌjēn How to pronounce oncogene (audio)
: a gene having the potential to cause a normal cell to become cancerous

More from Merriam-Webster on oncogene

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!