Mole And Melanoma

Given the same genetic mutation, what causes melanocytes to develop into harmless moles or deadly melanoma?

Melanoma is a cancer that develops from pigment-producing cells in the skin called melanocytes. Moles, or nevi, and melanoma often result from the same genetic mutation, but the difference between the two on the molecular level has been a mystery. Researchers at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) have identified a protein that stops the growth of the skin tumour cells by making them enter a state of programmed hibernation or cell death.