Biology / Unit 9 Bio 1931 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Oncogenic Viruses
Captions available
The idea
An oncogenic virus can cause cancer by introducing genes that drive unregulated cell growth or by disrupting genes that normally restrain it.
In practice
Human papillomavirus is oncogenic and is associated with cervical cancer; hepatitis C virus is linked to liver cancer after chronic infection.
Where people slip
Most viral infections are not oncogenic— only viruses interfering with cell-cycle regulation carry this added cancer risk.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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