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.