What type of cellular repair occurs when damage to DNA is minor and easily fixed?

Base excision repair is a crucial process that specifically addresses minor DNA damage, such as the alteration or removal of a single nucleotide. This pathway is initiated when the cell detects small lesions, such as those resulting from oxidative stress or deamination, that do not significantly distort the DNA helix. The process involves several key steps: DNA glycosylases recognize and remove the damaged bases, creating an abasic site. This is then processed by other enzymes that cut the DNA strand, fill in the gap with the correct nucleotide, and seal the strand, ensuring that the integrity of the DNA is maintained.

This mechanism is efficient and highly accurate, allowing the cell to restore its DNA without introducing errors, which is critical for maintaining genomic stability. In contrast, other repair mechanisms like double-strand break repair tackle more severe damage, while nucleotide excision repair addresses bulky DNA adducts. Error-prone repair is typically invoked when there is extensive damage and can introduce mutations, which is not ideal for minor, easily fixed issues.