True or False:Translesion DNA synthesis is the first mechanism the cell uses to repair DNA damage?

• A. True
• B. False

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of translesion DNA synthesis: It is a DNA damage tolerance process that allows the DNA replication machinery to replicate past DNA lesions or damage.
2. Recognize that translesion DNA synthesis is not a repair mechanism but rather a tolerance mechanism that allows replication to continue despite the presence of DNA damage.
3. Identify the primary DNA repair mechanisms: These include direct repair, base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair, and mismatch repair, which are typically the first responses to DNA damage.
4. Consider the sequence of events in DNA damage response: When DNA damage occurs, the cell first attempts to repair the damage using one of the primary repair mechanisms before resorting to translesion synthesis.
5. Conclude that translesion DNA synthesis is not the first mechanism used by the cell to repair DNA damage, as it is employed when the replication machinery encounters lesions that cannot be repaired immediately.