Human morbidity and mortality is determined by the interaction
between genetic factors, environment, life events and health
behavior. An important genetic variable that affects people's
health is the efficiency at which they maintain the stability and
integrity of their genome. This parameter is collectively determined
by genotypes at numerous genetic loci. DNA damage – a
major threat to genome stability - is usually attributed to
environmental DNA damaging agents. However, most of the
ongoing damage that is continuously inflicted on cellular DNA is
in fact caused by endogenous oxygen radicals produced in
metabolism, inducing tens of thousands of DNA lesions per day