| July 11, 2024byDr. Monica M. Bertagnolli Every day, billions of cells in your body divide, each producing two daughter cells. Its an essential process for your tissues and organs to renew themselves and remain healthy. To do it, cells must first duplicate their DNA to ensure that each daughter cell gets an accurate copy. In this process, mistakes are inevitably made. Most DNA errors are accurately fixed and do not lead to mutations. But when small errors akin to single-letter typos arent corrected, they can become permanent in a cell and multiplied with each subsequent cell division. Even cells that dont divide, such as neurons in your brain, acquire damage and mutations in their DNA with age. As a result, your tissues contain collections of cells with distinct mutations that accumulate over time. While many of these small errors will show no obvious consequences, others can lead to cancer and other health conditions. Now, a new DNA sequencing technique, described inNatureand developed through research supported by NIH, promises to detect early DNA changes before they become permanent mutations in a cells genome. The method, called Hairpin Duplex Enhanced Fidelity Sequencing (HiDEF-seq), could advance our understanding of how and why mutations arise, with potentially important implications for our health. For example, the ability to identify signs that precede mutations may help predict a persons health risks based on genetic predispositions, environmental exposures, or other factors. | 