What is DNA repair?
Q: What is DNA repair?
A: DNA repair is the process by which a cell identifies and corrects damage to its DNA molecules caused by normal metabolic activities and environmental factors, such as UV light and radiation.
Q: How many molecular lesions can occur per cell per day?
A: There are as many as a million molecular lesions per cell per day.
Q: What can structural damage to the DNA molecule cause?
A: Structural damage to the DNA molecule can alter or eliminate the cell's ability to transcribe the affected gene.
Q: What can potentially harmful mutations induced by DNA lesions affect?
A: Potentially harmful mutations induced by DNA lesions can affect the survival of the cell's daughter cells after it divides.
Q: Why must the DNA repair process be constantly active?
A: The DNA repair process must be constantly active so it can respond rapidly to any damage in the DNA structure.
Q: What factors can affect the rate of DNA repair?
A: Many factors can affect the rate of DNA repair, including cell type, age of the cell, and the extracellular environment.
Q: What can happen to a cell that has accumulated a lot of DNA damage or one that no longer effectively repairs damage?
A: A cell that has accumulated a lot of DNA damage, or one that no longer effectively repairs damage, can enter one of three states.
