The body has ingenious DNA-repair mechanisms to limit the damage, and not all mutations occur in parts of the DNA that are active. That should underscore the need for humans to keep practicing behaviors that reduce their cancer risk, they said. The remaining 66% of genetic mutations known to give cancer a foothold are random transcription errors in DNA, the pair concluded. Random mutations that occur when DNA copies itself account for far more cases of cancer than mutations inherited from one's parents or mutations that result from environmental influences, a new study argues. Random mutations that occur when DNA copies itself account for far more cases of cancer than mutations inherited from one's parents or mutations that result from environmental influences, a new study argues.

Source: Los Angeles Times March 23, 2017 20:26 UTC