ESTRO PT 2018

DNA – a set of blueprints

• genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms

• information is wraped on two antiparallel DNA strands

• DNA occurs in linear chromosomes human genome: 2 x 23 (diploid) • a certain amount of DNA is devoted to coding biomolecules • variation is an essential factor to evolution (1000-10^6 lesions per day) • stability is important for the individual (less than 1/1000 mutations)