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**Summary:**

A new study by researchers at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, has found that prolonged exposure to blue light significantly increases genetic mutations in yeast. The study, published in PLoS Genetics, showed that blue light exposure caused more “loss of heterozygosity” (LOH) mutations compared to other environmental stressors like low sugar, high temperature, or oxidative stress. The mutations were attributed to the production of reactive oxygen molecules by blue light, which then damaged DNA. The researchers suggest this genotoxic effect could be used as a novel antifungal agent, especially in light of increasing antifungal resistance.

**News Article:**

**Indian Scientists Discover Blue Light Significantly Increases Genetic Mutations**

**Chennai, May 25, 2025** – Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Thiruvananthapuram, have made a concerning discovery about the impact of blue light on genetic material. Their study, published in the journal *PLoS Genetics*, reveals that prolonged exposure to blue light leads to a substantial increase in genetic mutations within yeast cells.

The research team, led by Professor Nishant K.T., found that blue light exposure caused significantly more “loss of heterozygosity” (LOH) mutations in yeast, compared to other stressors like temperature changes, nutrient deprivation, and oxidative stress. LOH mutations, while sometimes beneficial for evolution, can also contribute to diseases like cancer.

“We were surprised to see the magnitude of the effect,” said Professor Nishant. “Blue light exposure resulted in large sections of the DNA losing genetic variation, effectively making significant parts of the genome uniform.”

The team discovered that blue light induces the production of reactive oxygen molecules, such as hydrogen peroxide, which then damage DNA. This damage led to errors in DNA copying and oxidation of DNA bases, causing the observed mutations.

While the study focused on yeast, the researchers caution that the findings could potentially have implications for other organisms, including humans, due to yeast’s common use as a biological model. They emphasize that more research is needed to confirm if similar effects occur in human cells. This adds to the growing body of knowledge about the potential risks of blue light exposure, which is already known to disrupt sleep cycles and affect vision.

Interestingly, the researchers also propose that the genotoxic properties of blue light could be harnessed as a novel antifungal agent, especially in the face of growing resistance to traditional antifungal drugs. “Our work provides a mechanistic basis for using chronic blue light exposure as a novel antifungal agent through its genotoxicity,” Prof. Nishant explained.

The research highlights the need for further investigation into the full range of biological effects of blue light, particularly given the increasing reliance on blue light-emitting devices in modern life.

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