Somatic damage, from

Explain the difference between somatic damage from radiation and genetic damage. Which type causes immediate damage to the exposed individual ... 

Perera, F., Flemminki, K., Jedrychowski, W., Whyatt, R., Campbell, U., Flsu, Y, Santella, R, Albertini, R, O Neill, J. P. (2002). In utero DNA damage from environmental pollution is associated with somatic gene mutation in newborns. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev. 2002 11 1134—7. 

Positive results from the in vitro micronucleus test indicate that the test substance induces chromosome damage and/or damage to the cell division apparams, in cultured mammahan somatic cells. Immunochemical labehng (FISH fluorescence in sim hybridization) of kinetochores, or hybridization with general or chromosome specific centromeric/telomeric probes can provide useful information on the mechanism of micronucleus formation. Use of cytokinesis block facilitates the acquisition of the additional mechanistic information (e.g., chromosome nondisjunction) that can be obtained by FISH techniques. The micronucleus assay has a number of advantages over metaphase analysis performed to measure chromosome aberrations (see OECD TG 487 draft). 

Fig. 1 DNA damage consequences. Genetic alterations to the DNA both in somatic and in germ cells can induce a plethora of events, from single-point mutations to chromosomal rearrangements or loss, which lastly lead to several genetic related diseases, among them is also cancer...

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