DNA damage occurs constantly in every cell in our bodies, and many components of the DNA damage response are essential for neurodevelopment. Single-strand and double-strand DNA breaks, as well as base mutations, arise as a consequence of DNA replication, transcription, epigenetic modification, cellular respiration, and environmental stressors. If the resultant damage is not accurately repaired, DNA mutations can occur that can lead to somatic variation among neurons and other cell types.
