Genetic mutations play a crucial role in crossing the biological threshold from normalcy to cancer. Mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes can disrupt normal regulatory pathways. For instance, an activating mutation in an oncogene can push a cell past the proliferation threshold, while a loss-of-function mutation in a tumor suppressor can impair the cell's ability to halt this growth. Understanding these genetic alterations helps in identifying the threshold levels of various oncogenic signals.
