What occurs when a cell is exposed to radiation and is unable to repair itself?

What occurs when a cell is exposed to radiation and is unable to repair itself?

• A. Cell mutation
• B. Cell replication
• C. Cell death
• D. Carcinogenesis

Answer: (C)

Ionizing radiation can break DNA and disrupt essential cellular functions. When the damage is too severe for the cell’s repair systems to fix, the cell can no longer survive or properly carry out its vital processes, so it undergoes death. This death helps prevent damaged DNA from being passed to daughter cells. If damage could be repaired, the cell might survive, though there’s a risk of mutations; if mutations accumulate over time, carcinogenesis can be a long-term consequence. But the immediate outcome when repair isn’t possible is cell death.

Ionizing radiation can break DNA and disrupt essential cellular functions. When the damage is too severe for the cell’s repair systems to fix, the cell can no longer survive or properly carry out its vital processes, so it undergoes death. This death helps prevent damaged DNA from being passed to daughter cells. If damage could be repaired, the cell might survive, though there’s a risk of mutations; if mutations accumulate over time, carcinogenesis can be a long-term consequence. But the immediate outcome when repair isn’t possible is cell death.