Genomic instability

Genomic instability is the slow build-up of damage to your DNA, both in the nucleus and in the mitochondria. It includes point mutations, reshuffled chromosomes, copy-number changes, and the waking-up of 'jumping genes' (retrotransposons). It comes from inside, like copying errors and reactive oxygen species, and from outside, like UV light and toxins. And it gets worse as your DNA-repair ability fades. As one of the primary hallmarks of aging, it drives clonal expansion, cancer risk, and tissue dysfunction.

Last reviewed: June 22, 2026

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