Natural Mutations are Largely Harmless

Researchers have identified hundreds of mutations in the blood cells of a 115-year old woman. Interestingly, they have determined that despite these mutations, the cells themselves are still extremely healthy, suggesting that the majority of naturally occurring mutations in our bodies are perfectly harmless.

Recent research has been associating dozens upon dozens of unfortunate genetic mutations in the cells of our bodies with terrible and adverse consequences including cell degradation, genetic conditions, and even cancer.

However, a recent study published in the peer-reviewed journal Genome Research had revealed that most mutations are far more common and far less likely to cause harm than scientists would have thought.

According to the study, back in 2005 a 115 year old woman who had wanted her body donated to science passed away. This instantly made her body the oldest human subject ever to be tested, and what the researchers found astounded them.

Researchers from the VU University Medical Center in the Netherlands analyzed the healthy blood cells in her body, looking for signs of genetic lesions that would cause mutation. According to the authors of the study, they were surprised to find that this woman, while obviously extremely healthy to have achieved such longevity, had been living with over 400 genetic mutations.

Interestingly, while the majority of these mutations originated from her white blood cells, the researchers found no evidence that this woman had suffered from any hematological illness, despite the fact that most hematological illness has been tied to adverse mutations that influence white blood cell behavior.

The authors of the study have theorized that this woman remained so healthy despite the fact her cells had undergone so much mutation simply because the mutations were found mostly in the non-coding regions of the genome, and thus could no influence cellular processes.

It is very likely, the researchers converted, that all humans undergo a similarly large number of harmless mutations as they age, and it is simply the rare chances that a mutation will effect a coding region that can threaten the health of a person.

The study was published in Genome Research on April 23.