[The molecular function of oncogenes].

Cancer represents a disruption of the processes in normal cells. To understand cancer, and thereby develop effective treatment, it is necessary to learn about normal reactions in the cells, and their connections. Thus cancer research has been an important source of knowledge about normal cells. Oncogenes are genes that transform normal cells into cancer cells. More than 60 oncogenes have been discovered, and many malignant diseases have been linked to these genes. Human cells contain a normal version of oncogenes, known as protooncogenes, which participate in the normal, cellular processes. This discovery has been of major importance for our understanding of cancer and molecular genetics.