DNA can sustain serious injuries called double strand breaks, in which both strands of the helix snap. These breaks are among ...

For the first time, scientists have captured the exact moment DNA begins to unravel, shedding light on a fundamental chemical process that enables DNA to serve as the blueprint for life. A recent ...

Following a double-strand DNA break, an enzyme called PARP1 helps hold the two strands together —like superglue— and creates a safe zone for other proteins to come repair the damage. We don’t exactly ...

The DNA inside our cells is constantly being damaged, and one of the worst kinds of damage is a double-strand break—when both ...

Scripps Research scientists have discovered how some tumors endure DNA damage, revealing a potential new way to target them. The DNA inside our cells is constantly exposed to damage, and one of the ...

You can always be judged by your scars. This is the idea that sums up what researchers at Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) claim is one of the new breakthroughs in basic and biomedical ...

Scientists at INRS have identified a family of enzymes, known as Ssn, that can make targeted cuts in single-stranded DNA—a feat never before achieved. This discovery not only fills a major gap in ...

Despite its utility, PCR’s main limitation is that it requires precise cycles of heating and cooling to amplify DNA. The thermal cyclers that perform this operation are clunky, relatively expensive, ...

There’s an old saying about a dollar waiting on a dime. In other words, a monumental endeavor may become stuck at some point if a key preliminary element remains unavailable. The saying could be ...