Exploring the Landscape of Somatic Mutations in Human Tissue

Every cell in the human body contains a blueprint of the body called the genome. Throughout life, the genome can become damaged resulting in errors (mutations) that can change the way cells behave and may result in diseases such as cancer. Examining the mutations found the genome of both normal (non-cancerous) and diseased cells can give a valuable insight into the very earliest stages of cancer development. Comparing the number and type of mutations in different normal tissues is revealing new insights, helping us to better understand more about why cancer develops.