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Nature Cell Biology 8, 547–549 (1 June 2006) | doi:10.1038/ncb0606-547

Survival choices

Thomas A. Kunkel & Bennett Van Houten

The human genome encodes at least 16 DNA polymerases, many of which have only been discovered in recent years (Table 1). Four are members of the Y family of polymerases, which are strongly implicated in bypassing DNA lesions that block replication by the B family replicative DNA polymerases.