Updates from Derren Brown and the Enigma Crew

“Researchers say they have unlocked a “major part” in the puzzle of understanding how DNA repairs itself. A team from the University of Dundee said they believed the finding could have implications for the future treatment of cancer.

They have discovered a protein, known as FAN1, which plays a vital role in maintaining healthy DNA. Researchers described the protein as “molecular scissors” which repair damaged DNA in human cells. This could help to prevent mutations which eventually lead to cancer.

Dr John Rouse, who is heading the team behind the discovery, said a major problem with DNA is that it is regularly damaged. He said: “If DNA damage is not fixed quickly then these instructions are changed and the result is mutations – undesirable changes in DNA – that can cause the cell to become abnormal.

“This is essentially what causes cancer.” Scientists have still to identify all the different factors contributing to DNA repair. However, Dr Rouse said: “With our findings we have unlocked a major part of the puzzle.”"

Read more at BBC News