Ques. 1AIPMT 2002
Cancerous cells can easily be destroyed by radiations due to : -
- Fast mutation
- Lack of oxygen
- Rapid cell division
- Lack of nutrition
Answer
(3) Rapid cell division
Solution
As per NCERT, cancer cells divide uncontrollably and rapidly (loss of contact inhibition).
∵ Radiation damages DNA, and cells that are dividing rapidly (replicating their DNA again and again) are the most sensitive to this damage.
⇒ In radiotherapy, tumour cells are therefore killed lethally while the surrounding normal (slowly dividing) tissue is affected less.
∴ Cancerous cells are easily destroyed by radiation due to rapid cell division.
Answer: (3)