IO 



Cellular Events Produced by 

 Ionizing Radiations 



I. Ionizing Radiation as a Biological Tool 



Possible radioactive fallout from tests of atomic bombs is an international 

 concern; all nations realize that radiation from fallout has deleterious 

 effects on human beings. Such radiation damage is unique neither to 

 fallout nor to humans. A number of different types of radiations give 

 rise to similar changes in all living systems. These effects result from 

 ionizations occurring within the living cells. Radiations producing 

 ionization include alpha, beta, and gamma rays; neutrons; protons; 

 deuterons; and X rays. Similar cellular changes can also be produced 

 by ultraviolet irradiation. 



A number of complicated responses follow the exposure of the human 

 body, or for that matter, of any vertebrate or higher plant, to ionizing 

 radiations. These responses may be divided into two types: somatic or 

 body effects which occur in the individual, and genetic effects which are 

 transmitted to future generations. The somatic responses in humans 

 include such phenomena as loss of hair; skin disorders; dysfunction of the 



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