In the past month, three scientists were awarded a Nobel Prize in chemistry for their studies and discoveries in molecular DNA repair. Lindhal, Modrich, and Sancar all studied damages in DNA over the past 40 years. These three scientists observed that DNA is fragile and can be damaged by sunlight, chemicals, or even get impaired by every day actions. DNA is an important part in all living organisms so after observing the mistakes in the nitrogen containing bases, also known as Adenine, Cytosine, Thymine, and Guanine, the scientists all generally hypothesized the existence of some sort of repair system in DNA. They then used molecular chemistry to discover the existence of a repair method and further the study of effective drugs. Because small …show more content…
He noticed cytosine turns into uracil and in 1974 he discovered a bacterial enzyme that takes out uracil. This is the first step in the repair process which later on uses different enzymes finish and patch up the hole created by taking out uracil. Thus, Lindhal identified the existence of DNA repair and the first step in the process which allowed advances in the research of DNA correction. Scientist Modrich also identified molecules that monitor a stretch of genetic material and as a result, he identified what is known as DNA mismatch repair. The molecules find mismatches between bases, remove the wrong bonds, and replaces the stretch of DNA with the correct pattern. Modrich observed these findings first in bacteria cells and then later on in animal cells, including human cells. The third scientist Sancar described nucleotide excision repair in 1983. He discovered that this type of repair fixes damage from ultraviolet light. He also identified three bacterial proteins that cut out short sections of DNA with improperly fused bases. Sancar later outlined the next steps of repair when enzymes fill the blank spot with fresh correct hydrogen containing bases and seal up the gap created by the