What is the Difference Between Oncogene and Tumor Suppressor Gene?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are two types of genes that play crucial roles in the development of cancer. They have distinct functions and effects on cell growth and division.
Oncogenes:
- These are mutated versions of proto-oncogenes, which are normal genes that help cells grow and divide.
- Oncogenes promote uncontrolled cell growth and division, causing normal cells to become cancerous.
- They result from mutations in proto-oncogenes, which are acquired during a person's lifetime, rather than being inherited.
Tumor Suppressor Genes:
- These genes regulate cell growth and division and repair acquired DNA damage.
- They suppress cell growth and division by slowing it down or promoting apoptosis, a process known as programmed cell death.
- Tumor suppressor genes help prevent uncontrolled cell growth and division.
- Mutations in tumor suppressor genes can lead to the inactivation of the gene, causing cells to grow out of control.
In summary, oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are two classes of genes that play crucial roles in cancer development. Oncogenes promote uncontrolled cell growth and division, while tumor suppressor genes help prevent this growth. Mutations in either type of gene can contribute to the development of cancer.
Comparative Table: Oncogene vs Tumor Suppressor Gene
The main differences between oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are their roles in cancer development and the number of mutated alleles required for cancer development. Here is a table comparing the two:
| Feature | Oncogenes | Tumor Suppressor Genes |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Oncogenes are mutated proto-oncogenes that have the potential to develop into cancer. Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that help regulate cell division and prevent uncontrolled growth. | |
| Cancer Development | Oncogenes cause cancer when a proto-oncogene mutates, leading to excessive cell growth and division. Tumor suppressor genes cause cancer when they are inactivated, such as through a mutation, allowing uncontrolled cell division. | |
| Number of Mutated Alleles | Oncogenes can cause cancer with a single mutated allele. Tumor suppressor genes require two mutated alleles for cancer development. | |
| Inheritance | Inherited changes in oncogenes are sometimes linked to family cancer syndromes, but most changes involving oncogenes are acquired during a person's lifetime. Inherited changes in tumor suppressor genes have been found in some family cancer syndromes, causing certain types of cancer to run in families. |
Both oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes play crucial roles in cancer development, but they function differently and have distinct requirements for cancer to occur.
- Oncogenes vs Oncoprotein
- Oncogenes vs Proto Oncogenes
- Back Mutation vs Suppressor Mutation
- Intragenic vs Extragenic Suppressor Mutation
- Pseudogene vs Gene
- Tumour vs Cancer
- Reversion vs Suppression Mutation
- Mutagen vs Carcinogen
- Complementary vs Supplementary Genes
- Gene Expression vs Gene Regulation
- Cancer Cell Cycle vs Normal Cell Cycle
- Cancer Cells vs Normal Cells
- Activator Promoter vs Repressor
- Mutagen vs Teratogen
- Gene vs Genome
- Regulatory vs Repressor Protein
- Mutation vs Mutagen
- Structural vs Regulatory Genes
- Gene vs Protein