What is DNA? How does DNA damage affect cancer formation?

What is DNA?

Deoxyribonucleic acid Abbreviated: DNA. It is a molecule carrying genetic instructions necessary for vital functions, continuation of generations and biological development in all living organisms and some viruses. Its main role is long-term storage of genetic information.

Cells are the basic building blocks of life. Cells organize into functional structures forming tissues, which form organs. Cell proliferation and communication are controlled by a precise system. DNA is the cell’s governing molecule. Its genetic information enables it to direct cells’ vital activities.

Each section of DNA is called a gene . With its ladder-like, double-helical structure, DNA consists of 4 types of nucleotides (Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine and Guanine). You can see DNA’s structure below; a detailed examination appears at the end of the article.

Human DNA contains a total of 3 billion nucleotides and approximately 25.000 genes. Genes contain the genetic information needed to produce proteins enabling vital bodily processes. They also determine characteristics such as eye color that make us who we are. They play an important role in cancer formation too. Mutations preventing certain genes from functioning cause cancer.

Related topic: What is DNA synthesis? Its importance in cancer formation

How does DNA damage affect cancer formation?

DNA is damaged by various factors every day. Our body has developed protective and repair systems against this damage. With increasing age and carcinogen exposure, however, some DNA damage stops being repaired, leading to uncontrolled cell division.

Why is DNA such an important molecule?

• DNA is the key to life. Through DNA, you can trace human history.
• DNA analyses provide information about disease risks.
• The fundamental cause of cancer is damage occurring in DNA. Molecular geneticsis advancing, enabling development of treatments targeting cancer’s fundamental cause.
• Of our genetic information in DNA, 99.9 percent is identical in all of us. The remaining 3 million bases account for our differences. Consequently, our disease risks and responses to drugs differ.
• It must be emphasized that only 2 percent of all human genetic information contains information about protein production. Although the remainder is called “junk DNA”, this portion is not fully understood. Epigenetic factors are thought to play a role in these regions.