In a recent study published in the Journal of Nature, researchers at the University of Geneva found that premature entry of the genome into the replication phase can trigger molecular collisions and new mutations in DNA molecules. Relevant findings are expected to help researchers develop new therapies to treat cancer.

All the cells in our body contain the same genetic information, coming from a single germ cell. The daughter cell of this initial cell become more specialized while proliferating during fetal development. This process, called cell differentiation, produces a variety of cell types, such as nerve cells, muscle cells, or blood cells, which have different forms and functions and form tissues and organs. What makes the same genetic blueprint lead to diversity?