Reactor Operator Practice Exam

Radiosensitivity tends to be higher in which type of cells?

Actively dividing and less differentiated Highly differentiated and non-dividing Mature neural cells Inert tissue cells

Correct Answer:

Actively dividing and less differentiated

Explanation:

Radiosensitivity is higher in cells that are actively dividing and less differentiated. Radiation primarily damages DNA, and cells in the middle of the cell cycle, especially during DNA replication and mitosis, are more likely to incur lethal damage because they have less time to repair and a higher chance that DNA errors become catastrophic. In contrast, mature, highly differentiated cells that rarely divide—like mature neural cells—or inert, non-dividing tissues tend to repair DNA more effectively and are more radioresistant. So the description of actively dividing and less differentiated cells is the one that best explains why some cells are more radiosensitive.

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