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Multiple Choice
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is damaging to cells because it __________.
A
pokes holes in the nuclear envelope
B
blocks all translation
C
deactivates the enzymes needed for DNA replication
D
causes mutations in the DNA
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than visible light, which can penetrate cells and cause damage.
Recognize that DNA is the molecule that carries genetic information in cells, and its integrity is crucial for proper cellular function and replication.
Learn that UV radiation can cause mutations in DNA by inducing the formation of pyrimidine dimers, which are covalent linkages between adjacent thymine or cytosine bases in the DNA strand.
Explore how these mutations can disrupt the normal base pairing during DNA replication, leading to errors in the genetic code that can affect protein synthesis and cell function.
Consider the cellular mechanisms that repair UV-induced DNA damage, such as nucleotide excision repair, which helps maintain genomic stability by removing and replacing damaged DNA segments.