MISMATCH REPAIR AS AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF NEW MUTATIONS IN NONDIVIDING CELLS

This paper describes a mechanism which permits somatic cells to genera te random mutations in the complete absence of cell proliferation. Kno wledge of the existence of this mechanism should provide us with the b asis for a better understanding of a number of important biological ph enomena, and in particular may help to explain the origins of many hum an cancers.