Which of the following terms best describes the function of oncogenes?

The function of oncogenes is best described as increasing the risk of cancer when mutated. Oncogenes are mutated forms of normal genes known as proto-oncogenes, which are involved in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. When these proto-oncogenes undergo mutations, they can become oncogenes that drive excessive cell proliferation or inhibit normal cell death, contributing to the development of cancerous tumors.

In the context of cancer biology, when these mutated genes are activated, they can promote uncontrolled cell division and contribute to tumor formation. This identification is crucial for understanding tumorigenesis and the molecular mechanisms underlying different types of cancer.

Normal cell growth is typically regulated by proto-oncogenes; the distinction is important because oncogenes are the faulty variants that promote cancer. While genes that suppress tumor growth, known as tumor suppressor genes, work in opposition to oncogenes, oncogenes themselves specifically refer to the genes that, when mutated, lead to increased cancer risk. Describing oncogenes as always present as harmless genes fails to capture their potential to become harmful through mutations.