DNA damage

DNA Damage

DNA damage (pronounced: dee-en-ay dam-ij) is a phenomenon that involves changes to the basic structure of DNA. It is a crucial aspect of biology, genetics, and medicine.

Etymology

The term "DNA damage" is derived from the acronym for Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA), the molecule that carries genetic instructions in all living organisms, and the English word "damage", which refers to physical harm that impairs the value, usefulness, or normal function of something.

Definition

DNA damage refers to the alteration of the chemical structure of DNA, such as a break in a strand of DNA, a base missing from the backbone of DNA, or a chemically changed base such as 8-OHdG. These alterations can lead to changes in the DNA sequence, potentially causing mutations that may result in diseases like cancer.

Types of DNA Damage

There are several types of DNA damage, including:

Each type of damage can have different implications for the cell and organism, and the body has different repair mechanisms for each.

DNA Damage Response

The DNA damage response (DDR) is a complex network of cellular pathways that sense, signal, and repair DNA lesions. When DNA damage is detected, the DDR can halt the cell cycle to allow for repair, or trigger apoptosis (cell death) if the damage is too severe.

Related Terms

DNA repair: The collection of processes by which a cell identifies and corrects damage to the DNA molecules that encode its genome.
Mutagen: An agent, such as radiation or a chemical substance, that causes genetic mutation.
Oncogene: A gene that has the potential to cause cancer.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on DNA damage
Wikipedia's article - DNA damage

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