Radiation sensitivity

Radiation sensitivity ( Latin sensibilitas sensitivity) describes in the field of radiation biology , medical physics and medicine the sensitivity of biological cells , tissues or living beings to the effects of high-energy or ionizing radiation .

Tissues and cells that divide and proliferate quickly are particularly sensitive to radiation. Tissues and cells with a slow division rate are less sensitive to radiation. The cause of this is the radiation damage caused to the DNA , which affects the ability of a cell to divide. In spite of the damage, cells that are not dividing can continue to function in the organism until the cells cannot finally divide and die.

Experimentally, drugs that switch off apoptosis in cells have increased radiation resistance.

See also

• radiation
• Radiation dose / dosimetry
• Radiation protection / radiation damage / radiation exposure
• Radiation resistance / radiation therapy / radiation sickness

Web links

• Science article on drug-reduced radiation sensitivity
• Short slide on the concept
• Lexicon entry