Radiation is part of life and is comes in different forms. Radiation from the sun provides warmth and light but other forms of radiation can cause harm to the human body. Scientists have also found ways to cure the body with radiation. The different types of radiation highlighted in this paper are Alpha, Bata, and Gamma.

Radiation particles with an electrical charge are alpha particles. Alpha particles have the lowest penetrating power of the primary forms of radiation. These particles cannot travel more than inches and cannot penetrate the outermost layer of human skin. Even a piece of paper will block alpha particles. Although alpha particle cannot penetrate the skin, if the radioactive material makes it’s way into the body, by inhalation or ingestion, the concentrated radiation can destroy tissue and organs.

Beta particles are more powerful than alpha particles. Beta particles are capable of traveling faster and can penetrate deeper into the skin than alpha particles. Beta particles can travel about ten yards depending on the isotope and can penetrate tissue several millimeters. Beta radiation causes a slight risk to skin and will generally burn skin with prolonged exposure. The danger comes with contact to the mouth or eyes. Very similar to alpha particles, the greatest threat of radioactive beta particle is when the particles entry the body. Beta particles are capable of immense internal damage to tissue and organ in much the same way alpha particles affects the human body.

Gamma rays are electromagnetic radiation similar to x-rays. Gamma rays are different because the photons in the gamma rays can travel up to a mile. Gamma rays are the strongest and most dangerous type of radiation. Only very dense shielding can protect from gamma radiation. Because gamma rays are capable of penetrating the body all tissues and organs are at risk of damage if exposed to gamma radiation.

Deoxyribonucleic acid is the building block of life, the essence of every living creature on Earth. DNA is a macromolecule, shaped like a double helix, is composed of long strands of alternating sugars, phosphates, and nitrogenous bases. (Bailey, n.d.). The nitrogenous bases Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine, and Thymine create chromosomes that are part of the nucleus of cells. The chromosomes contain genetic information for the replication of cells. Chromosomes also pass genetic information to the next generation of a species.

DNA consists of strands of nucleotides units that repeat and contain nucleic acid, which are the biological building blocks of life. (Alberts et al, 2002). DNA polymers are very large and very complex molecules and these molecules contain millions of nucleotides. DNA replication is the process the body uses to create additional copies. Replication of a single strand of DNA begins the process to specifically produce identical copies. DNA replications in the cells of a living organism start at specific points in the genome. These markers are the origins the body needs to repair and create new stands of DNA.

Alpha, beta, and gamma radiation will damage the human body. The extent of the damage depends on the type of radiation and the concentration of the exposure. Exposure to the radioactive particles and gamma ray can cause the double helix of DNA to break in the location of the exposure. Healthy tissue can normally repair this damage. When the entire strand of DNA gets damaged, mutations can begin if the cell splices pieces of the incorrect DNA together. The result of the mutation is the loss of a gene or change in the gene within a strand of DNA. The loss of the gene can lead to changes in the new cells.

During DNA replication a precise copy forms from the original DNA strand. When radiation makes changes in the strands of DNA errors in replication produce faulty strands. Some errors in the strands are correctable in the cell. When cells are unable to correct the errors the changed strand of DNA replicates.

DNA can become damaged by factors other than radiation. Damage from viruses or genetic mutation also cause the creation of more damaged cells. These mutations in DNA are new pieces of information that is foreign to the body. DNA damage or mutations can cause can lead numerous forms of cancers.

Medical scientists have created applications using beta particle for various medications. Radiation damages cells and prevents cell growth. Cancer cells treated with radiation generally stop growing and die. Radiation not only attacks the cancer cell but healthy cells near the cancer. By attacking cancer cells before they can divide and grow, radiation prevents the spread of the disease. Radiation does not kill cells instantly. Different cancer cells react to radiation at different rates. Sometimes the cancer cells are in tissue throughout the body and radiation treatments are not an option.

Conclusion

Radiation of any kind will have an impact human body. Exposure to radiation can cause severe health consequences and possibly death. Radiation can damage and change DNA but radiation can also treat cancer patients. Damage from radiation exposure can create changes in the DNA sequence. Radiation treatment can help cancer patients lead a long and healthy life after the cancer dies. Although radiation damages human cells, it has a very beneficial used and scientific advances create new ways to use radiation to heal the body.

References

Bailey, R. (n.d.). DNA. Retrieved from http://biology.about.com/od/geneticsglossary/g/DNA.htm

Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, Raff M, Roberts K & Wlater P (2002). Molecular Biology of the Cell (4th ed.). Garland Science. pp. 120–121.

Health Physics Society. (2012). Nuclear Medicine Patient Issues – Therapeutic Nuclear Medicine. Retrieved from http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q2913.html