Research Finds Genomic Sites Hypersensitive to Ultraviolet Radiation

A study by Sanjay Premi, PhD and other researchers found that human melanocytes, responsible for skin and hair color, contain over 2,000 such genomic sites that are up to 170-fold more sensitive than the average site. These sites occur at specific locations near genes, so may let UV radiation drive direct changes in cell physiology rather than act through rare mutations.

This study was published in the National Academy of Sciences.