Freefall 3353
Life problems in low gravity
[!0.987]2019-11-04
DNA is a section of the cell we really don't want to be damaged. Radiation can cause three types of damage to DNA. Single-strand break, dual strand break, and mutation.
Single-strand break
Dual-strand break
Mutation
Dual-strand breaks and mutations usually can't be repaired. Given time, a cell can often fix a single-strand break.
The key is time. The faster a cell reproduces, the more vulnerable it is to radiation.
Product opportunity. Atomic-level duct tape for molecular repair. The tricky part will be finding someone with fingers small enough to apply it.
Color by George Peterson