In advanced
molecular biology and genetics, the genome is the whole of an organism’s
hereditary information. It is encoded either in DNA, or, for several types of
viruses, in RNA. The genome takes in both the genes and the non-coding
sequences of the DNA/RNA.
Genome
Repair describes how the genome of the bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans gets
reassembled after being crushed by-dose radiation.
Repair
of DNA damage is vital for protection against cancer and other age related
diseases. Such diseases are supposed to be started by mutations and
rearrangements of the DNA sequence. DNA damage produced by ionising radiation,
simple alkylating agents or endogenously hydrolytic and oxidative processes is repaired
by the base excision repair (BER) pathway.
