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Nature Reviews Cancer 8, 324–325 (1 May 2008) | doi:10.1038/nrc2385

Oncogenes: Sibling rivalry explained

Isobel Barry

The proteins encoded by the oncogenes KRAS and NRAS are highly homologous and have similar enzymatic functions, but mutations in KRAS are found in nearly 50% of human colon cancers, whereas only about 5% occur in NRAS. In their Nature Genetics paper, Tyler Jacks and colleagues used genetically engineered mice to shed light on the distinct effects of KRAS and NRAS in differentiation and tumorigenesis in colonic epithelium.