Research summary
Before a cell can grow and divide, it must first duplicate its DNA. But mistakes during DNA copying can result in mutations that are frequently seen in cancerous cells. A better understanding of these changes is important for treating cancer.
Dr. Grant Brown, Canada Research Chair in Genome Integrity, is studying how proteins prevent mistakes during the copying of the DNA. He and his research team aim to discover new ways to prevent DNA mistakes that can lead to human diseases. With a better understanding of how changes to DNA arise, they may be able to improve our ability to detect and treat cancer and shed light on the aging process, where mistakes in DNA copying happen more often.