Molecular Mechanisms of Disease Module 4

A set of flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to molecular mechanisms of disease and DNA repair mechanisms.

DNA Damage

Alterations to the DNA structure that may lead to cell dysfunction or disease.

Mitosis

The process of nuclear division in somatic cells resulting in two genetically identical daughter cells.

Meiosis

A type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, creating four genetically diverse gametes.

Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER)

A DNA repair mechanism that removes damaged DNA segments and replaces them with correct nucleotides.

Mismatch Repair (MMR)

A system for recognizing and correcting erroneous insertion, deletion, and misincorporation of bases that escape proofreading by DNA polymerases.

Single-stranded break repair (SSBR)

Repair mechanisms that handle breaks in one strand of the DNA double helix.

Double-strand break repair (DSBR)

Repair of breaks in both strands of DNA, involving mechanisms like Non-Homologous End Joining (NHEJ) and Homologous Recombination (HR).

Epigenetics

Changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence, often through mechanisms like DNA methylation.

DNA Polymerase

The enzyme responsible for DNA synthesis during replication, ensuring high fidelity in the incorporation of nucleotides.

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)

Chemically reactive molecules containing oxygen that can cause oxidative damage to DNA, proteins, and lipids.