Summary: Protein hyper-interleukin-6, a "designer protein" that has to be produced via genetic engineering, enabled a paralyzed mouse to walk again. Spinal cord injuries caused by sports or traffic accidents often result in permanent disabilities such as paraplegia.

Damage to DNA occurs continuously. DNA quality control mechanisms, such as DNA repair and replicative pathways, mitigate that damage and preserve the DNA sequence. Mutations are believed to arise when DNA lesions are not repaired appropriately, and they are thought to be an indicator of ineffectual DNA quality control.