A surprising new study in mice suggests that healthy brain development involves a carefully controlled cycle of DNA damage and rapid repair. As newborn neurons migrate through the developing brain, they temporarily break both strands of their DNA—a type of damage that is usually deadly for most cells. Remarkably, these neurons repair the breaks within about a day and continue developing normally. Researchers found that when this repair process was disrupted, mice developed long-term movement problems. Although more research is needed to confirm whether the same process occurs in humans, the findings could provide new insights into neurodevelopmental disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and even certain pediatric brain cancers.
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