I NEED HELP ON THIS!
Which statement best describes how radiation causes mutations?
A. Radiation breaks down DNA bonds, and the bonds remain broken.
B. Radiation triggers DNA replication and splits the complementary base pairs.
C. Radiation breaks down DNA bonds, and the cell repairs the bonds incorrectly.
D. Radiation triggers DNA replication, and the cell produces two identical DNA molecules.
HELP ;-;
C. Radiation breaks down DNA bonds, and the cell repairs the bonds incorrectly.
I can definitely help you with that!
The correct answer is option C. Radiation breaks down DNA bonds, and the cell repairs the bonds incorrectly, leading to mutations. Radiation can damage the DNA molecule by causing breaks in the DNA strands. When the DNA is damaged, the cell attempts to repair it. However, sometimes the repair process is not entirely accurate, and mistakes can be introduced. These mistakes in the DNA sequence are known as mutations.
To determine the correct answer to this question, it's important to understand how radiation affects DNA and how mutations occur. Let's break it down:
Radiation is known to be ionizing, which means it has enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, leading to the production of charged particles and free radicals. When radiation interacts with DNA, it can cause several types of damage, including breaks in the DNA strands, changes to the arrangement of bases, or the formation of chemical alterations.
Mutations, on the other hand, are changes in the DNA sequence that can occur naturally or as a result of external factors, such as radiation exposure. Mutations can lead to a variety of outcomes, including no effect, cell death, or the development of diseases like cancer.
Now, let's evaluate the options given:
A. Radiation breaks down DNA bonds, and the bonds remain broken.
This answer suggests that radiation causes DNA bonds to break but does not mention anything about the repair process. While radiation can indeed break DNA bonds, it's important to note that cells have mechanisms to repair this damage. Therefore, this option is incomplete and not the best answer.
B. Radiation triggers DNA replication and splits the complementary base pairs.
This option suggests that radiation triggers DNA replication, which is incorrect. Radiation damages DNA, but it does not directly trigger replication or split the complementary base pairs. So, this option is not accurate.
C. Radiation breaks down DNA bonds, and the cell repairs the bonds incorrectly.
This option acknowledges that radiation breaks down DNA bonds but emphasizes that the repair process might not occur accurately. It's well known that cells attempt to repair damaged DNA, but this repair is not always perfect. During the repair process, mistakes can occur, leading to mutations. Therefore, this option is more aligned with the mechanism of radiation-induced mutations.
D. Radiation triggers DNA replication, and the cell produces two identical DNA molecules.
This option is incorrect because radiation does not directly trigger DNA replication, nor does it lead to the production of two identical DNA molecules.
Based on the explanations above, option C is the most accurate and best describes how radiation causes mutations. Radiation breaks down DNA bonds, and when the cell repairs these bonds incorrectly, it can result in mutations.