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DNA Repair

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

  • 201 Accesses

Synonyms

DNA damage correction

Definition

DNA repair refers to a collection of processes by which a cell identifies and corrects damage to the DNA molecule(s) that encode its genetic information.

History

The discovery and early history of DNA repair has been reviewed recently (Friedberg 2008 and references therein).

Overview

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the molecule that stores the genetic instructions used by all known living organisms and some viruses (other viruses use ribonucleic acid – RNA – as their genetic material). Successful propagation of life is therefore dependent upon the faithful copying of the information encoded in the sequence of DNA bases in a process called replication.

In the context of astrobiology, DNA can be damaged by exposure to environmental factors such as heat, ultraviolet or ionizing radiation, extreme vacuum, desiccation, various toxic chemicals, or oxidizing agents. DNA can also be damaged as a result of normal metabolic processes occurring within...

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References and Further Reading

  • Friedberg EC (2008) A brief history of the DNA repair field. Cell Res 18:3–7

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Friedberg EC, Walker GC, Siede W, Wood RD, Schultz RA, Ellenberger T (2006) DNA repair and mutagenesis, 2nd edn. ASM Press, Washington, DC

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  • Moeller R, Stackebrandt E, Reitz G, Rettberg P, Doherty AJ, Horneck G, Nicholson WL (2007) Role of DNA repair by non-homologous end joining in Bacillus subtilis spore resistance to extreme dryness, mono- and polychromatic UV and ionizing radiation. J Bacteriol 189:3306–3311

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  • Nicholson WL, Munakata N, Horneck G, Melosh HJ, Setlow P (2000) Resistance of Bacillus endospores to extreme terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 64:548–572

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  • Nicholson WL, Schuerger AC, Setlow P (2005) The solar UV environment and bacterial spore UV resistance: considerations for Earth-to-Mars transport by natural processes and human spaceflight. Mutat Res 571:249–264

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Space Life Sciences Laboratory, Kennedy Space Center, University of Florida, Room 201-B, Building M6-1025/SLSL, 32899, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Wayne L. Nicholson

  2. German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, 51147, Cologne, Germany

    Ralf Moeller

Authors
  1. Wayne L. Nicholson
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  2. Ralf Moeller
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wayne L. Nicholson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Cite this entry

Nicholson, W.L., Moeller, R. (2014). DNA Repair. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_452-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_452-3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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