London, Jan 4 (PTI) Alcohol consumption permanently damages the DNA in stem cells, which in turn increases the risk of developing cancer, a study led by an Indian-origin scientist warns. However, in the new study, researchers used mice to show how alcohol exposure leads to permanent genetic damage. "Some cancers develop due to DNA damage in stem cells," said Professor Ketan Patel from the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology. It is important to understand how the DNA blueprint within stem cells is damaged because when healthy stem cells become faulty, they can give rise to cancer, researchers said. "Our study highlights that not being able to process alcohol effectively can lead to an even higher risk of alcohol-related DNA damage and therefore certain cancers," Patel said.

Source: India Today January 04, 2018 06:11 UTC