[ RadSafe ] DNA Repair

[Joseph Preisig]

Dear Radsafe,

     The 2015 Nobel Prize in Chemistry involves cellular repair of damaged
DNA.  This could be a big game-changer for things going on in Health
Physics.  I expect books like Eric Hall's text on Radiation
Biology/Biophysics will have to add a chapter about all this.

     Up until now, we've been interested in Single Strand (DNA) breaks,
Double Strand Breaks, knock-on collisions, various physics scattering and
reaction processes etc.  Now, in addition to the body producing DNA in our
reproductive factories, these chemists are suggesting that cellular DNA
repair is occurring.  This appears to be in addition to the processes of
hormesis.

     So, perhaps our understanding of mutation and cancer production will
have to be modified to account for cellular repair of damaged/broken DNA.
The body/cells are actively trying to repair damaged DNA.  No wonder every
sperm (or egg) is sacred.....the body is making an effort to keep DNA
somewhat perfect.

     One might wonder how the process of evolution will be affected by DNA
repair.  Is intelligent design a more realistic process in view of DNA
repair.  Or can both processes occur?

     I suspect some/much junk DNA gives rate, offset, acceleration,
feedback, control information for various bodily tissues and organs.  Human
DNA is mapped, but it isn't necessarily fully understood.  Have a good week.
      Joe Preisig