DNA damage (naturally occurring)

DNA damage (naturally occurring) is a type of damage to the DNA that naturally occurs in the body. This can be due to various factors such as metabolic processes, environmental factors, and aging. DNA damage can lead to mutations and possibly cancer if not repaired.

Causes of DNA damage

DNA damage can occur naturally due to various factors. These include:

• Metabolic processes: These can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) which can damage the DNA.
• Environmental factors: These include exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, ionizing radiation, and certain chemicals.
• Aging: As we age, the ability of our cells to repair DNA damage decreases, leading to an accumulation of DNA damage.

Effects of DNA damage

If DNA damage is not repaired, it can lead to various problems. These include:

• Mutations: DNA damage can lead to mutations, which can disrupt normal cell function and lead to diseases such as cancer.
• Cancer: DNA damage is a major cause of cancer. If the damage occurs in a gene that controls cell growth, it can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and the formation of a tumor.

DNA repair

Cells have several mechanisms to repair DNA damage. These include:

• Base excision repair: This is a cellular mechanism that repairs damaged DNA throughout the cell cycle. It is primarily responsible for removing small, non-helix-distorting base lesions from the genome.
• Nucleotide excision repair: This is a DNA repair mechanism that removes a wide range of different types of DNA damage, including bulky adducts and cross-links.
• Mismatch repair: This is a system for recognizing and repairing erroneous insertion, deletion, and mis-incorporation of bases that can arise during DNA replication and recombination.

See also

• DNA replication
• DNA damage theory of aging
• DNA damage response

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