The rod-shaped bacterium E. coli served as the model system for DNA repair in the study. | Photo by U.S. Department of Defense
Bacterium exhibits remarkable ability to repair or prevent DNA damage arising from internal processes, contrary to previous findings. A study led by Indiana University biologist Patricia Foster and colleagues has found that forces in the external environment and oxidation are the greatest threats to an organism’s ability to repair damage to its own DNA.
The results are based on the first comprehensive, whole genome analysis of spontaneous mutation in Escherichia coli
“Our study investigated 11 DNA repair pathways previously identified as resulting in spontaneous mutations,” said Prof Foster...
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