A special issue on DNA damage responses and genome maintenance

• 来源期刊: 细胞研究（英文版）
• 年，卷（期）: 2008,（1）
• 页码范围: 1-2
• 页数: 2页
• 语种: 英文
• DOI: 10.1038/cr.2008.9

摘要

There is nothing more fundamental than the genome for the existence and main-tenance of all living beings. The importance of the genome is increasingly appreciated as recent discoveries have revealed that changes in the human genome, regardless of being inherited or induced, can result in diseases that either significantly shorten lives (as seen in cancer) or dramatically affect the quality of lives (often seen in neurodegenerative diseases). Therefore, maintaining genome integrity is critical for not only the con-tinuation of a species in evolution (although mutations may be occasionally beneficial during evolution) but also for longevity and general health.