Synopsis
DNA is not a pristine collection of the canonical four bases in Watson-Crick geometry. Modification of the bases and sugars in DNA is an ongoing process, with endogenous damage as well as exogenous (Lawley 1984). Oxygen and light are major causes of DNA damage. Although the frequency of total modifications can be considered low (i.e., one in 105 to 106 bases), the number is more than one per average gene. The modifications not only block DNA polymerases but also cause miscoding and the introduction of mutations into the genome. Paradoxically, drugs that modify DNA are used to treat cancers, although there is a finite risk of introducing DNA damage that could lead to a new cancer. More the 100 human genes are involved in DNA repair, indicating the importance of the damage, and deficiencies in these genes have been shown to have major phenotypic consequences.
Introduction
DNA is the genetic material of organisms, and its integrity is essential for the maintenance of life....
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Guengerich, F.P. (2014). Types of DNA Damage. In: Bell, E. (eds) Molecular Life Sciences. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6436-5_60-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6436-5_60-1
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