Gamma rays are harmful to living matter because they penetrate far into the body and damage millions of cells at the same time.
Explanation:
- Radiation converts molecules in living cells to ions or free radicals.
- These exert their most destructive effect on DNA.
- Small radiation doses can kill cells, alter genes, and damage chromosomes.
- The repair mechanism is not always perfect.
- Incorrect repair of DNA damage can lead to leukemia, birth defects, and many forms of cancer.
- Large radiation doses can lead to impairment of organ function and illness.
- Death can result from severe damage to key organs such as skin, intestines, bone marrow, lungs, and liver).
- Typical damage to DNA includes breaking the hydrogen bonds between bases, base loss, and base change.
- It also includes the creation of new cross linkages, single strand breaks, and double strand breaks.
- The most serious damage to DNA is a double-strand break.
- Unrepaired breaks lead to the re-joining of incorrect fragments.
- This can cause mutations, kill cells, and lead to the loss or amplification of chromosomal material.
