DNA Replication and Human Disease

At least 5 trillion cell divisions are required for a fertilized egg to develop into an adult human, resulting in the production of more than 20 trillion meters of DNA! And yet, with only two exceptions, the genome is replicated once and only once each time a cell divides. How is this feat accomplished? What happens when errors occur? This book addresses these questions by presenting a thorough analysis of the molecular events that govern DNA replication in eukaryotic cells. The association between genome replication and cell proliferation, disease pathogenesis, and the development of targeted therapeutics is also addressed. At least 160 proteins are involved in replicating the human genome, and at least 40 diseases are caused by aberrant DNA replication, 35 by mutations in genes required for DNA replication or repair, 7 by mutations generated during mitochondrial DNA replication, and more than 40 by DNA viruses. Consequently, a growing number of therapeutic drugs are targeted to DNA replication proteins. This authoritative volume provides a rich source of information for researchers, physicians, and teachers, and will stimulate thinking about the relevance of DNA replication to human disease.