TED-Ed: What happens when your DNA is damaged? - Monica Menesini

DNA in our cells is damaged thousands of times daily, leading to potential errors that can cause serious issues like cancer. Fortunately, cells have repair mechanisms involving specialized enzymes to fix these errors. Base mismatches are corrected by DNA polymerase and mismatch repair systems. Chemical changes from environmental and natural sources are addressed by specific and general repair pathways, such as base excision repair. Radiation causes more severe damage, requiring complex processes like nucleotide excision repair and homologous recombination. While some DNA changes can be beneficial for evolution, most are harmful, and defects in repair mechanisms are linked to aging and cancer.

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