Suppressor gene
Suppressor Gene
A Suppressor Gene (pronunciation: suh-PRESS-or jeen) is a type of gene that plays a crucial role in the regulation of cell cycle, cell growth, and cell differentiation.
Etymology
The term "Suppressor Gene" is derived from the English words "suppress" and "gene". "Suppress" originates from the Latin word "suppressus", meaning to hold down or restrain, and "gene" from the Greek word "genos", meaning race or kind. This term accurately describes the function of these genes, which is to restrain or control the growth and division of cells.
Function
Suppressor genes are often referred to as the "guardians of the genome" because they prevent the uncontrolled growth and division of cells, which can lead to the formation of tumors. They do this by producing proteins that inhibit the cell cycle and promote cell differentiation. When these genes are mutated or lost, it can result in the development of cancer.
Related Terms
- Oncogenes: These are genes that have the potential to cause cancer. When they are mutated or overexpressed, they can turn a normal cell into a cancerous cell.
- Proto-oncogenes: These are normal genes that can become oncogenes due to mutations or increased expression.
- Tumor Suppressor Genes: These are a type of suppressor gene that specifically prevent the formation of tumors.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Suppressor gene
- Wikipedia's article - Suppressor gene
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski