Final answer:
Ionizing radiation like gamma-rays and X-rays can cause DNA damage, resulting in mutations if the damage is not properly repaired. These mutations can disrupt cell replication and lead to cancer. Radiation therapy targets these mutations to preferentially kill cancer cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Radiation Induces Genomic Instability
Ionizing radiation, such as gamma-rays and X-rays, can cause serious damage to the DNA within cells. This type of radiation can penetrate deep into the body, and upon interaction with cellular DNA, it can cause the formation of hydroxyl radicals leading to single- and double-stranded breaks in DNA. These breaks can disrupt the genetic material and if not repaired correctly, can lead to mutations.
When DNA is damaged, the normal process of cellular replication can be altered. Damaged DNA can result in the improper replication of cells and may give rise to cancer cells which grow in an uncontrolled manner. This is because the mutations in the DNA can affect genes that regulate cell growth and division.
Radiation therapy exploits this cell-damaging property to treat cancer by preferentially targeting rapidly dividing cancer cells. However, the susceptibility of different tissue types varies, with some tissues recovering or repairing the radiation-induced damage more efficiently than others. Researchers study the effects of radiation on different organisms to understand the impact of dose and exposure length, which may help in developing better cancer treatment strategies.