Stationary cells

Replication-independent mutations - mutations that occur in stationary cells - bear particular importance. Since they may lead to a hidden accumulation of damages, they play a crucial role in cancerogenesis and gain importance in old age, when we are faced with an increased genomic instability, e.g. NHEJ exhibiting a significantly elevated error ratio.
By studying these mechanisms, using the model organism S. cerevisiae, we hope to learn about the interrelations that in the long run may lead to the loss of growth control and to genome instability (which are typical properties of tumor cells).