# 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.

## Sources

- López-Otín et al.. (2023). Hallmarks of aging: An expanding universe. Cell. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2022.11.001
- Hoeijmakers. (2009). DNA damage, aging, and cancer. New England Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra0804615

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_Canonical: https://longevity-switzerland.com/en/glossary/genomic-instability · Part of Longevity Cities · Updated 2026-06-22_