Video Transcript
The following figure shows two cells, cell A and cell B. The nucleus of cell A is inside the red circle, and the nucleus of cell B is inside
the blue circle. Both cells are absorbing nuclear radiation. Which of the cells would be more damaged? (A) Cell A, (B) cell B, (C) both cells are equally damaged, (D) neither cell will be
damaged.
This question is asking us to identify the cell which will be more damaged by the
nuclear radiation shown in the diagram. To do this, we need to notice any differences between the two cells and the nuclear
radiation that the cells are absorbing.
Both cell A and cell B are absorbing nuclear radiation, as both green waves, which
represent the nuclear radiation, stop inside the respective cells. When this happens, energy is transferred to the cell from the nuclear radiation. The darker spots circled represent the nuclei of these cells. The nucleus is the part of the cell that contains the DNA of the cell. Every cell contains DNA.
Notice that cell A is being penetrated by radiation directly in the nucleus. The green wave representing nuclear radiation comes to a stop at the dark spot. Hence, the energy of the nuclear radiation is transferred to the nucleus of cell
A.
When a cell’s nucleus absorbs nuclear radiation, this energy can damage the DNA
located in the nucleus. It is damage to the DNA of a cell that can cause it to become cancerous or die. The nuclear radiation absorbed by cell B is in a location outside the nucleus. It is, therefore, less likely that cell B would experience as much damage as cell A,
because the DNA of cell B is not being damaged. Hence, the correct answer is option (A). Cell A would be more damaged.
