AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Oncogenes are genes that, under normal circumstances, tell cells to multiply and divide. In adults this doesn’t happen very often. We can think of oncogenes as being a bit like the accelerator pedal in a car.

Detailed explanation-2: -Oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes can be compared to the controls of a car. In cancer cells, oncogenes act like a “stuck gas pedal”, and tumor suppressor genes act like “broken brakes”.

Detailed explanation-3: -The cellular oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are analogous to the accelerator and brake pedals in a car. If an oncogene is permanently active, similar to a stuck accelerator in a car, cells divide without restraints and a tumor develops.

Detailed explanation-4: -A proto-oncogene normally functions in a way much like the gas pedal on a car. It helps the cell grow and divide. An oncogene is like a gas pedal that is stuck down, which causes the cell to divide out of control.

Detailed explanation-5: -The analogy of a car is often used to describe the function of proto-oncogenes, oncogenes and tumor suppressors in the cell cycle and cell division. The gas pedal pushes the car/cell into the cell cycle and promotes cellular division and the brake pedal stops the cell cycle and inhibits cellular division.