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Nature 411, 757-758 (14 June 2001) | doi:10.1038/35081234

Neurodegenerative diseases: Origins of instability

Richard R. Sinden

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Errors in DNA replication are thought to underlie the lengthening of tracts of repeated DNA that occurs in some neurodegenerative diseases. But mechanisms for repairing damaged DNA may also be responsible.

Many neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington's disease and fragile X syndrome, share a similar genetic basis — the lengthening of tracts of repeated DNA sequence. The molecular mechanisms that bring about this 'repeat instability' have attracted much attention, but have remained somewhat mysterious.