Indirect DNA damage

Indirect DNA damage is when something that is not part of our DNA (like radiation, chemicals, or things made in a lab) damages our DNA. When our DNA is damaged, it means that the instructions (or code) inside our DNA get messed up. This can happen in many different ways, like when radiation changes a single letter in the code, or when it breaks the DNA into pieces. When this happens, our cells can’t work properly or sometimes can’t work at all, which can make us sick or cause diseases.