Understanding the Role of DNA Repair Genes DNA replication is a high-stakes process happening billions of times across the human body daily. With so much cellular division, damage from oxidative stress, environmental mutagens, or replication errors is inevitable. As a result, DNA Repair Genes encode proteins that identify and fix this damage, acting as a defense…
Introduction: What Are Tumor Suppressor Genes? Tumor suppressor genes are a critical group of genes that help regulate the cell cycle, maintain DNA integrity, and prevent the development of tumors. Tumor suppressor genes perform the role of cellular gatekeepers by actively monitoring cell division and controlling it to prevent unchecked proliferation. These genes detect damage…
Introduction: When Growth Signals Go Haywire In general, cells thrive in a delicately balanced environment, governed by complex genetic instructions. Among these instructions are proto-oncogenes, genes that ensure timely cell growth, differentiation, and repair. But a single mutation can tip the balance. When proto-oncogenes mutate into oncogenes (modified version of proto-oncogenes), they drive unregulated cell proliferation, one of the…
Introduction: What Are Cancer Genes and Why Do They Matter? Cancer genes are specific segments of DNA that, when altered, contribute to the development or progression of cancer. These genes commonly include oncogenes that promote cell growth and tumor suppressor genes that prevent uncontrolled cell division. However, numerous genes belong to different categories also participate in promoting cancer…
