DNA damage

Topic

DNA damage is an alteration in the chemical structure of DNA, such as a strand break, a missing nucleobase, or a chemically modified base. It occurs naturally through cellular metabolism or via environmental factors like radiation and toxins, and is distinct from a mutation, which is a change in the base sequence itself. Unrepaired DNA damage can lead to genomic instability, cellular senescence, or apoptosis, and is a major driver of aging and cancer.