inal answer:
Non-ionizing radiation kills microbes by causing thymine dimers in DNA, leading to mutations that can disrupt essential biological processes and eventually cause cell death.
Step-by-step explanation:
Non-ionizing radiation works to kill microbes by inducing DNA mutations. This type of radiation, like ultraviolet (UV) light, causes thymine dimers to form between adjacent thymines within a single strand of DNA. When DNA polymerase encounters these dimers during DNA replication, it may not correctly incorporate the complementary nucleotides, leading to mutations that can ultimately result in microbial death. Thus, non-ionizing radiation has a detrimental effect on microbial DNA and can inhibit protein synthesis indirectly through these mutations.