DNA Damage Theory DNA damage by UV rays Image credit: Wikipedia The DNA Damage Theory helps to understand how long we live and our health. As we age genetically our cells become more and more damaged, this can be called as cellular aging The theory shows that Our DNA can hurt inany ways, from inside our bodies and from outside. Things like environmental factors and Oxidative stress can harm our DNA . Key takeaways • DNA can be damage by environmental exposures and oxidative stress. • The DNA damage theory explain how accumulated genetic damage contribute to cellular aging and impact overall health • Understanding the mechanism of DNA damage is necessary for developing intervention to extend lifespan. • Ongoing researches are focusing on DNA damage, cellular senescence, and age related diseases. • DNA repair and reduce the effect of DNA damage, may promote healthy aging. Understandin...
DNA Damage Theory
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| DNA damage by UV rays Image credit: Wikipedia |
The DNA Damage Theory helps to understand how long we live and our health. As we age genetically our cells become more and more damaged, this can be called as cellular aging
The theory shows that Our DNA can hurt inany ways, from inside our bodies and from outside. Things like environmental factors and Oxidative stress can harm our DNA.
Key takeaways
•DNA can be damage by environmental exposures and oxidative stress.
• The DNA damage theory explain how accumulated genetic damage contribute to cellular aging and impact overall health
• Understanding the mechanism of DNA damage is necessary for developing intervention to extend lifespan.
• Ongoing researches are focusing on DNA damage, cellular senescence, and age related diseases.
• DNA repair and reduce the effect of DNA damage, may promote healthy aging.
Understanding DNA Damage:
DNA is facing many threats, like DNA mutations, oxidative damage, strand breaks and many more. Oxidative damage and mutations happening naturally inside the body, but the external mutagens like Uv rays, other radiations and some chemicals can harm our DNA. Our cells have DNA repair mechanism to fix damages, this includes base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair, and double strand break repair, yet they can weaken over time.
DNA Damage theory:History
In 1960s , Leonard Hayflick introduced the DNA damage theory of Aging, he found that human cells can only divide 50 times, later the cells enter a biologically inactive state the senescent stage,this type of genetical damage build up over time which leads to Aging. Scientists lke James Watson and Thomas Lindahl revealed how DNA damage affects cells. DNA repair mechanism was discovered by Thomas Lindahl in 1970s-1980s, later James Watson discovered that after each and every cell division the length of telomeres (protective ends of chromosomes) is decreasing, that was in 1980s.
DNA Damage: Free Radicals and Oxidative stress.
Free radicals otherwise called as Reactive oxigen species, are unstable molecules, which can harm our DNA.
How Antioxidants protect DNA
In our body free radicals are Inactivated by antioxidants. Antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase,glutathione peroxide
etc, protect our DNA from oxidative stress. Vitamin c, vitamin E, carotenoid are defending our DNA from free radicals.
Mitochondrial DNA Damage
Mitochondria is popularly known as the power hose of cells, energy liberated and stored here by the oxidising carbohydrate. actually most of free radicals are the by products of this oxidation process. These free radicals can damage the Mitochondrial DNA, then it is hard for cells to make energy, leading to health problems.
DNA Repair Mechanisms and pathways
DNA repair includes, mismatch repair, base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair and double strand repair. Nucleotide excision repair remove and replaces DNA strand with larger lesion. Base excision repair mechanism replaces damaged or altered DNA bases. Mismatch repair process correct the errors that occurred during DNA replication. Double- trand break repair the breaks in both strand in the double helix.
The Relation Between DNA damage and Aging
Our cells get more genetical challenge, as we get order. The connection between Aging an DNA damage is a key subject in Gerontology . Understanding this connection helps to do better to protect DNA
Cellular Senescence and DNA Damage
Senescent cells played a big role in aging,they can't replicate. These cells cannot be eliminated from the body, they released some toxic meterials. The presences of this type of cells in large quantity the tissue decline and leads to age-related diseases.
Genomic instability and telomere shortening
Telomeres are the tail ends of chromosomes, which protect the chromosomes. Telomere short ening is an important sign of Aging, leading to cell arrest and aging.
DNA repair capability decline
DNA repair capability diminish as we age, this make DNA damage worse, accelerate aging and increase the chances of diseases.
DNA Damage and Disease Development
Many research shows that, DNA damage is the key in age-related diseases like neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Mutation in genes that control cell dition and growth can lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation and cancerous tumors. DNA damage in neural cells can cause degeneration and death of this neurons, causing Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Like wise DNA damage in vascular cells leading to atherosclerosis and other heart related conditions.
Environmental factors Affecting the integrity of DNA
Uv radiations, X-Men rays and some chemicals, can make changes in our DNA. UV- Induced mutations can harm DNA and may lead to skin cancer. Chemical carcinogens are environmental toxins, that include tobaco products, Radon gas, asbestos, formaldehyde, processed meat etc
Lifestyle impacts
Good diet and frequent exercises are necessary for DNA health, and avoid too much stress. In healthy lifestyle can contribute DNA damage over time. Avoid contact with chemical carcinogens and UV radiations.
DNA Damage Prevention
To live longer the DNAs should be keep healthy, today there are many there are many treatments available to make DNA healthy. For example antioxidant supplementation, it neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress. Damaged genes can be repaired or replaced by genetic therapy, DNA repair enzyme development is another method, which rectify genetical errors.
Conclusion
We got an insight in to Aging. This theory helped us to understand different types of DNA damage s and their reasons. We also understand how the cell self repair the DNA errors. Research on DNA damage is still growing, this knowledge help us to fight age-related diseases and live longer
FAQ
What is the DNA Damage Theory OF Aging?
The DNA damage theory suggest that genetic mutations over time is the real cause of Aging
How Do Cells repair DND Damage?
They use base excision repair double- stand break repair, and nucleotide repair, by its own way
What are the different types of DNA Damage?
Damages include, stand breaks, base mutations and choss- links.
What are diseases linked to DNA damage?
Cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases etc
How does DNA damage leading to Aging?
DNA damage can cause to stop cell growth and shorten telomeres, telomere shortening is a hallmark of Aging
How can we prevent DNA damage?
Live healthy lifestyle, avoid contact with harmful chemicals, utilize new genetical treatments to fix DNA errors
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