It has come to the knowledge that a specific group of researchers has come out with the discovery of a protein that is known as ATM kinase, that has been known for playing a decisive task in the repairing of the double-strand breaks in DNA, in conjunction with helping out with the prevention of cells with this specific category of DNA damage from dividing, and by this means thwarting the passage of unrelenting DNA damage on to daughter cells. It has also been stated that DNA damage in a constant manner has enough potential so as to lead to the development of cancer. The results originate from a study that are conducted in mice by the scientists worth mentioning at the National Cancer Institute or the NCI, a distinguished component of the National Institutes of Health.

The group of eminent scientists is comprised of Dr. Andre Nussenzweig, of the National Cancer Institute's Experimental Immunology Branch in the Center for Cancer Research, in company with his esteemed brother, Dr. Michel Nussenzweig, M.D., of the Laboratory of Molecular Immunology of Rockefeller University and a Howard Hughes Institute medical investigator and others with the sole concentration of investigating the position of ATM in the proper and efficient maintenance of the genome stability. In his own words Dr. Andre Nussenzweig said, "These breaks are particularly dangerous because they can interact with other DNA breaks in the cell, or in a daughter cell, which can lead to a translocation of genes."

It has been identified that a translocation is the out of place joining of two DNA segments that in the normal sense are not connected. "In lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell, such a translocation might activate a cancer-promoting gene and become one of the first steps in the formation of a lymphoma." Lymphomas, as has been found through several investigative studies are specific types of cancers of the lymphatic system that happens to be a major part of the immune system. It this regard, it has been learnt that the Lymphomas in the ongoing year of 2007 will be diagnosed among an estimated 71,380 Americans while there is a stable anticipation that 19,730 people will succumb to death for this exclusive disease.

While being enquired by this correspondent Dr. Andre Nussenzweig clarified saying, "DNA breakage and joining events in lymphocytes are essential for building up the diverse repertoire of immune responses in humans and other animals. On the other hand, this process is fundamentally dangerous because it generates DNA double-strand break intermediates, which are potent elements for translocations."