Multiple choice

DNA damage caused by exogenous agents comes in various forms. Which of the following agents increases the rate of depurination in DNA strands?

  1. UV-B light

  2. UV-A light

  3. Vinyl chloride

  4. Ionising radiation

  5. High tempretures
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Thermal disruption at elevated temperature increases the rate of depurination (loss of purine bases from the DNA backbone) and single-strand breaks. For example, hydrolytic depurination is seen in the thermophilic bacteria, which grows in hot springs at 40-80 °C.

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