[Campbell Biology P.443] What is the primary role of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in relation t... | Practice Question

What is the primary role of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in relation to cancer, as described in the text?

  • A: They are oncogenes that promote cell growth.
  • B: They are tumor-suppressor genes involved in DNA damage repair.
  • C: They primarily regulate cell migration and adhesion.
  • D: They are tumor viruses that cause breast cancer.

Explanation

The text states, 'BRCA1 and BRCA2 are considered tumor-suppressor genes because their wild-type alleles protect against breast cancer and their mutant alleles are recessive.' It also mentions, 'The BRCA1 and BRCA2 proteins both appear to function in the cell's DNA damage repair pathway.'