Asked in ETEA MDCAT 2016 2016Moderate

Radiation damages living organism is primarily due to:

Correct answer: E. All of them

  • A. Excitation phenomena
  • B. Ionization
  • C. Photoelectric effect
  • D. Heating
  • E. All of them

Explanation

The correct answer is All of them.Radiation can harm living organisms through a combination of mechanisms: excitation can cause energy release that damages cellular structures, ionization creates reactive ions that can disrupt DNA and proteins, the photoelectric effect results in electron ejection that compromises molecular integrity, and heating can denature proteins.While each mechanism individually can cause harm, their combined effects often lead to more severe damage. The extent of damage depends on factors like radiation type and dose. Each incorrect option describes a real mechanism of radiation damage, but on their own, they do not encompass the full scope of radiation's impact on biological organisms.

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About Biological and Medical Uses of Radiation

Radiation in medicine includes X-rays and gamma rays for imaging, radioactive tracers for diagnosis, and controlled radiation for destroying cancerous tissue. The topic also covers CT scans, PET imaging, radiotherapy, sterilisation, half-life and dosage, alongside biological damage, shielding and the need to balance diagnostic or therapeutic benefit against exposure.

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