Boon and Bane of DNA Double-Strand Breaks

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), interrupting the genetic information, are elicited by various environmental and endogenous factors. They bear the risk of cell lethality and, if mis-repaired, of deleterious mutation. This negative impact is contrasted by several evolutionary achievements for DSB processing that help maintaining stable inheritance (correct repair, meiotic cross-over) and even drive adaptation (immunoglobulin gene recombination), differentiation (chromatin elimination) and speciation by creating new genetic diversity via DSB mis-repair. Targeted DSBs play a role in genome editing for research, breeding and therapy purposes. Here, I survey possible causes, biological effects and evolutionary consequences of DSBs, mainly for students and outsiders.

Automated summary

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are interruptions in genetic information caused by various environmental and endogenous factors, posing risks of cell lethality and deleterious mutation if mis-repaired. Evolutionary achievements in DSB processing help maintain stable inheritance and drive adaptation by generating new genetic diversity. Targeted DSBs are crucial in genome editing for research, breeding, and therapy purposes.