Final answer:
Radiation exposure affects tissues with rapidly dividing cells the most, such as bone marrow and intestinal tissue. Studies suggest that both the magnitude of the dose and the exposure time are important in understanding radiation effects, with acute exposure being potentially more harmful.
Step-by-step explanation:
The exposure a body has to radiation affects different tissues to various degrees. The tissues most commonly affected by radiation include bone marrow, intestinal tissue, hair follicles, and reproductive organs. These tissues are especially susceptible because they contain rapidly dividing cells. Radiation is often used in treating cancers because cancer cells divide more rapidly than normal cells, making them more likely to be destroyed by radiation. Studies on fruit flies and mice regarding radiation exposure suggest that the effects of radiation can depend on both the total dose and the duration over which it is received. These findings may provide insight into radiation effects on humans, indicating that a high dose received over a short period could be more detrimental than the same dose spread out over a longer time.