Gene discovery could help repair DNA 'mistakes'

Scientists from Britain and China have made a discovery that might lead to the ability to repair mutations in genes that cause harmful disorders, such as cystic fibrosis and certain cancers.

Geneticists at the United Kingdom's Oxford University and Zhejiang University in China have discovered that cells rank genes by importance, and give certain regions of our genetic make-up special treatment when repairing mutations.

Genetic mutations are one of the driving forces of evolution. They happen when a cell makes an error while copying DNA - the molecules that make up our genes. Some mutations cause no harm or even end up being beneficial, but others are responsible for illnesses such as muscular dystrophy and types of cancer.