ABSTRACT
To understand the mechanism of radiation, it is necessary to understand radiation effects on the molecular level. Since deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is considered the key molecule for the regulation of growth and differentiation, the effects of ionizing radiation on the structure, function, and synthesis of DNA are first examined. Recent identifications of cellular oncogenes and genes have provided new opportunities to investigate the effects of ionizing radiation on gene expression. In addition, the role of oncogenes in radiosensitivity is also being investigated.
