Question 782
{"accessible":false,"alternatives":[{"id":3967,"text":"equally as sensitive to radiation "},{"id":3968,"text":"insensitive to radiation"},{"id":3969,"text":"less sensitive to radiation"},{"id":3970,"text":"more sensitive to radiation"}],"archived":false,"correctAlternativeId":3970,"explanation":"\u003cp\u003eCells are most susceptible to radiation damage in the M phase of the cell cycle. This is\u0026nbsp;known as the\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan\u003e'law of\u0026nbsp;\u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Bergoni%C3%A9\"\u003eBergonié\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u0026nbsp;and Tribondeau, stating that cells undergoing greater\u0026nbsp;reproduction\u0026nbsp;are more sensitive than those in the S phase of the cell cycle.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIonization can lead to the production of free radicals; free radicals binding with other molecules can cause more free radicals that again bind with other molecules. This chain reaction effect can result in significant alterations to organic material.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf this occurs amidst molecules that are decisive to cellular metabolism, the fundamental function of the cell is at risk. Furthermore, free radicals can affect nucleic acid molecules leading to cell mutation or cell death (cell death is most likely the result of DNA double-strand breaks).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAdapted from Basic Physics of Digital Radiography by Kieran Maher, with author's permission (License: Creative Commons BY-SA 3.0).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e","id":782,"imageUrl":null,"imageAttribution":null,"imageAttributionCaseInfo":null,"firstQuestionPath":"/questions/782","nextQuestionPath":"/articles/biomolecular-radiation-damage/questions/755","relatedArticles":[],"alsoUsedIn":[],"stem":"\u003cp\u003eCells which undergo rapid division are...\u003c/p\u003e","menuLinks":[{"text":"Report problem with question","url":"https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfO3soWYhOjJ7yErSysyCe5V4A1CqW7WK3rDA7MtAkecMGqNw/viewform?entry.1624461248\u0026entry.553583435=https://radiopaedia.org/questions/782"}],"attemptsPercentages":[{"alternativeId":"3968","percentage":2},{"alternativeId":"3970","percentage":87},{"alternativeId":"3969","percentage":2},{"alternativeId":"3967","percentage":8}],"promptToLogin":false,"questionManager":false,"articleId":"biomolecular-radiation-damage"}