MSI and MMR are terms related to DNA repair mechanisms in cells, often discussed in the context of cancer.
Understanding MSI and MMR
Here's a breakdown:
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MSI: Microsatellite Instability
- MSI refers to a condition where there are changes in the length of microsatellites (short, repeating sequences of DNA) within a cell's DNA. These changes occur because the cell's DNA repair mechanisms aren't working correctly. According to the provided reference, "MSI = microsatellite instability."
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MMR: Mismatch Repair
- MMR is the DNA repair system that corrects errors made during DNA replication, specifically mismatches of base pairs. When MMR is deficient (dMMR), as stated in the provided reference "dMMR = mismatch repair deficient," these errors are not corrected, leading to MSI.
In simpler terms, MMR is the system that fixes mistakes in DNA, and MSI is what happens when that system isn't working, causing unstable DNA.
