[Campbell Biology P.438] Which statement accurately distinguishes between an oncogene and a ... | Practice Question
Which statement accurately distinguishes between an oncogene and a tumor-suppressor gene?
A: Oncogenes typically promote cell division, while tumor-suppressor genes inhibit it.
B: Oncogenes are always the result of mutations, whereas tumor-suppressor genes are inherently non-mutated.
C: Oncogenes are primarily involved in DNA repair, while tumor-suppressor genes regulate cell death.
D: Oncogenes are activated by external growth factors, whereas tumor-suppressor genes are activated by internal DNA damage signals.
Explanation
Oncogenes derived from proto-oncogenes drive cell proliferation and can lead to excessive cell division when activated. Tumor-suppressor genes, like p53, regulate the cell cycle, initiate DNA repair, or induce apoptosis, thereby inhibiting uncontrolled cell growth.