Genomic Stability
Genomic Stability - Related Videos
08:31
Isolation and Genome Analysis of Single Virions using 'Single Virus Genomics'
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Cited by 2 •
2013
Single Virus Genomics (SVG) is a method to isolate and amplify the genomes of single virons. Viral suspensions of a mixed assemblage are sorted using flow cytometry onto a microscope slide with discrete wells containing agarose, thereby capturing the virion and reducing genome shearing during downstream processing. Whole genome amplification is achieved using multiple displacement amplification (MDA) resulting in genomic material that is suitable for sequencing.
02:02
Genomics
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2020
Genomics is the science of genomes: it is the study of all the genetic material of an organism. In humans, the genome consists of information carried in 23 pairs of chromosomes in the nucleus, as well as mitochondrial DNA. In genomics, both coding and non-coding DNA is sequenced and analyzed. Genomics allows a better understanding of all living things, their evolution, and their diversity. It has a myriad of uses: for example, to build phylogenetic trees, to improve productivity and...
03:18
Nuclear Stability
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2020
Protons and neutrons, collectively called nucleons, are packed together tightly in a nucleus. With a radius of about 10−15 meters, a nucleus is quite small compared to the radius of the entire atom, which is about 10−10 meters. Nuclei are extremely dense compared to bulk matter, averaging 1.8 × 1014 grams per cubic centimeter. If the earth’s density were equal to the average nuclear density, the earth’s radius would be only about 200 meters. To hold positively charged protons together in the...
01:53
RNA Stability
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2019
Intact DNA strands can be found in fossils, while scientists sometimes struggle to keep RNA intact under laboratory conditions. The structural variations between RNA and DNA underlie the differences in their stability and longevity. Because DNA is double-stranded, it is inherently more stable. The single-stranded structure of RNA is less stable but also more flexible and can form weak internal bonds. Additionally, most RNAs in the cell are relatively short, while DNA can be up to 250 million...
08:31
Genome Editing
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2023
A well-established technique for modifying specific sequences in the genome is gene targeting by homologous recombination, but this method can be laborious and only works in certain organisms. Recent advances have led to the development of “genome editing”, which works by inducing double-strand breaks in DNA using engineered nuclease enzymes guided to target genomic sites by either proteins or RNAs that recognize specific sequences. When a cell attempts to repair this damage, mutations can be...
FAQs
Damage detection identifies problems in DNA or chromosome structure, allowing the cell to direct the appropriate corrective response. Mismatch repair addresses copying errors in DNA sequences, whereas double-strand break repair responds to breaks affecting both DNA strands. Coordinating detection with pathway selection limits the persistence of mutations and structural abnormalities during cell growth and division.
These pathways address distinct forms of genome damage. Mismatch repair corrects errors in DNA sequence, while double-strand break repair restores continuity when both strands of DNA are broken. Keeping these functions separate allows cells to respond to the nature of the problem rather than treating every lesion identically, helping preserve both sequence accuracy and chromosome structure.
Cell-cycle checkpoints can pause progression through division when damage remains unresolved, creating time for repair mechanisms to act. If correction is not possible, programmed cell death can remove the damaged cell from the population. These responses reduce the chance that mutations or chromosome abnormalities will be copied into daughter cells or passed through tissues.
Environmental stress can damage DNA or disturb chromosome structure, increasing the need for detection, repair, and cell-cycle control. The biological consequence depends on whether the damage is corrected before cell division. Effective responses help preserve genetic information, whereas inadequate correction can leave mutations or chromosome abnormalities that affect tissues, inheritance, or later disease development.
Disease research examines how failures in damage detection, DNA repair, cell-cycle checkpoints, or programmed cell death alter genetic information. Researchers can relate these failures to mutations and chromosome abnormalities associated with cancer, aging, and inherited disease. This work helps identify which protective processes are disrupted and supports the development of therapeutic strategies aimed at disease-related genome instability.
Accurate preservation of DNA sequence and chromosome structure allows genetic information to remain reliable as cells grow and divide. This reliability supports normal development and tissue function, while also helping maintain information transmitted through inheritance. When genome protection fails, accumulated mutations or structural abnormalities can interfere with biological processes and contribute to inherited disease or other disorders.