Interestingly, attenuated oxidative stress defenses (i.e., downregulation of SOD and CAT) contributed to cortical OPC apoptosis also in a mouse model of Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome, a genetic disorder characterized by elevated sensitivity to irradiation and microcephaly, caused by the loss-of-function of NBS, another player in genomic stability65–67. The gene discussed is SOD1; the disease is hereditary disease.