Cytogenetic Alterations Induced by Radiation in Amniocytes

• Author(s): Ana Salomé Pires ; Marta Pinto ; Paula Silveira ; Ana Filipa Brito ; Sérgio Fonseca ; Ismael Castro ; Sílvia Diaz ; Ana Luísa Cunha ; Marisa Ferreira ; Marta Zambetti ; Maria do Carmo Lopes ; Isabel Marques Carreira ; Maria Filomena Botelho
• Date: 2012
• Origin: Electrónica e Telecomunicações
• Subject(s): cellular activity; chemical reactions; ionizing radiation; amniocytes; cellular activity; chemical reactions; ionizing radiation; amniocytes
• Document Type: Conference Object
• Language: English

Description

When cells are submitted to ionizing radiation, they respond with physico-chemical phenomena like ionization/excitation of atoms and energy distribution over the cells, chemical reactions with formation of free radicals and rupture of chemical bonds and biological alterations leading to specific changes of cellular functions with decrease of cellular activity. Therefore, both tissues and organs are affected through direct and indirect effects.Among these effects, the interaction of radiation with chromosomes is a critical step since they contain the cell’s genetic information. [1] When cells are submitted to ionizing radiation, they respond with physico-chemical phenomena like ionization/excitation of atoms and energy distribution over the cells, chemical reactions with formation of free radicals and rupture of chemical bonds and biological alterations leading to specific changes of cellular functions with decrease of cellular activity. Therefore, both tissues and organs are affected through direct and indirect effects.Among these effects, the interaction of radiation with chromosomes is a critical step since they contain the cell’s genetic information. [1]