Final answer:
Thymine dimers can be repaired through direct reversal using light-dependent enzymes called photolyases. Additionally, nucleotide excision repair is another mechanism that involves the removal and replacement of the damaged DNA segment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thymine dimers are DNA lesions that can be repaired through direct reversal or nucleotide excision repair. In direct reversal, an enzyme called photolyase recognizes the distortion in the DNA helix caused by the thymine dimer and breaks apart the dimer in the presence of visible light. This repair mechanism is primarily used in eukaryotes and relies on light-dependent enzymes called photolyases. On the other hand, nucleotide excision repair is a dark repair mechanism that involves the removal and replacement of the damaged DNA segment.