Final answer:
A constitutively active oncogenic form of RAS will result in unregulated cell division and proliferation, characteristic of cancer, due to a gain of function mutation that keeps the downstream MAP kinase pathway permanently activated.
Step-by-step explanation:
If an oncogenic form of RAS is constitutively active (meaning it cannot hydrolyze GTP into GDP due to a gain of function mutation), it will result in the continuous activation of downstream signaling pathways that promote cell division and proliferation. Because of this, the affected cells lose growth control, leading to unregulated cell division which is a characteristic of cancer. Specifically, uninhibited RAS activity perpetuates the activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathways that regulate gene expression for cell proliferation and differentiation. Thereby, a constitutively active RAS protein generally correlates with the onset of cancerous growth (tumorigenesis) and potentially metastasis, not programmed cell death or enhanced resistance to DNA damage.