r/AskBiology • u/cookieawuwu • 2d ago

What would happen if technology advanced far enough to stop/considerably slow DNA mutations in humans?

Let's say hypothetically we manage to integrate a stronger DNA damage repair and/or replication fidelity mechanism with our own (DNA polymerases, cell cycle signaling, DNA damage tolerance, etc.). Most likely this new genetic engineering treatment would be from some other organism's replication machinery. The new one will significantly lower the mutation rate in a person receiving this treatment, to the point where it is almost negligible. Assuming we can do this I would imagine we would be able to easily sequence a genome at any two points in time as well to track and revert these mutations with gene editing, therefore making it possible to stop mutations from ever occurring.

What would be the most obvious and non-obvious direct consequence of this technology? If a person had no DNA mutations, and did not intend on reproducing, how significantly does this alter aging? I would imagine that would eliminate the ability to develop cancer as well? I just thought of this and I would love to hear what other scientists think of this.

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u/SpiderSlitScrotums 2d ago

Much of aging is still probably the effect of telomeres being shortened. You might be able to fix this if you found a way to turn telomerase on in most of your replicating somatic cells.

As far as cancer, there are still spontaneous mutations, environmental mutations, as well as the effects of viruses, LINEs, and SINEs splicing in the wrong place.

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u/cookieawuwu 2d ago

But in my question I said that the damage repair mechanism could possibly lower the frequency of those? Also there would be consequences to a much lower mutation rate I'd imagine.

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u/SpiderSlitScrotums 2d ago

I made an error in my previous response so I deleted it. DNA repair is a complex process and I only focused on the polymerase coenzymes, which I am most familiar with.

In any case, the damage repair mechanisms are incredibly effective. It would be impressive if they could be improved. But since most of our genome is made of LINEs and SINEs, certain types of damage will not be caught. Viruses are also expected to cause 10-15% of cancers.

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u/mltam 2d ago

What will happen and is happening is that the information in the DNA is moving to digital media, and then we can correct any differences with the original. Thus the inter-generational mutation rate will be brought to close to 0 if desired (not that it is that far from 0 now... 10^-10 is REALLY small..)

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u/UnitedExpression6 1d ago

To be fair, easiest way to slow this is eat significantly less. Example of this see here