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New Study Reveals Long-Lasting DNA Damage Raises Cancer Risk

1/26/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute have unveiled a startling truth: certain DNA damage in healthy cells can linger for years, heightening cancer risk. By examining family trees of single cells, they found that 15-20% of mutations in blood stem cells arise from this enduring damage, reshaping our understanding of how mutations contribute to cancer.

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Story summary

Researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute have unveiled a startling truth: certain DNA damage in healthy cells can linger for years, heightening cancer risk. By examining family trees of single cells, they found that 15-20% of mutations in blood stem cells arise from this enduring damage, reshaping our understanding of how mutations contribute to cancer.