What is the term for a substance that can induce tumors in living tissues?

The term that describes a substance capable of inducing tumors in living tissues is carcinogen. Carcinogens are agents, including chemicals, radiation, or infectious organisms, that promote carcinogenesis, the formation of cancer. This can occur through various mechanisms, such as causing DNA damage, promoting uncontrolled cell growth, or disrupting biological processes that normally regulate cell division.

In contrast, the other terms have different meanings. For instance, mutagens are substances that cause changes to the genetic material within a cell, which can lead to mutations but do not necessarily cause cancer directly. Oncogen refers specifically to a gene that has the potential to cause cancer when activated, rather than being a substance itself. Teratogens are agents that can cause malformations or developmental abnormalities in a growing fetus, which is unrelated to cancer formation in tissues. Understanding the specific definitions of these terms is crucial in recognizing how they relate to health and biological processes.