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Updated: Jul 8, 2025

Genome-Wide CRISPR Screen for Unveiling Radiosensitive and Radioresistant Genes
Published on: May 23, 2025
Tracing the serendipitous genesis of radiation resistance
Aman Kumar Ujaoney1, Narasimha Anaganti1,2, Mahesh Kumar Padwal1,2
1Molecular Biology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India.
Abstract:
Free-living organisms frequently encounter unfavorable abiotic environmental factors. Those who adapt and cope with sudden changes in the external environment survive. Desiccation is one of the most common and frequently encountered stresses in nature. On the contrary, ionizing radiations are limited to high local concentrations of naturally occurring radioactive materials and related anthropogenic activities. Yet, resistance to high doses of ionizing radiation is evident across the tree of life. The evolution of desiccation resistance has been linked to the evolution of ionizing radiation resistance, although, evidence to support the idea that the evolution of desiccation tolerance is a necessary precursor to ionizing radiation resistance is lacking. Moreover, the presence of radioresistance in hyperthermophiles suggests multiple paths lead to radiation resistance. In this minireview, we focus on the molecular aspects of damage dynamics and damage response pathways comprising protective and restorative functions with a definitive survival advantage, to explore the serendipitous genesis of ionizing radiation resistance.
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