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Biological chemistry

Beyond radical thinking

Radiation-induced DNA damage has been attributed to hydroxyl radicals, which form when water absorbs high-energy photons or charged particles. But another product of water's radiolysis might be the real culprit.

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Figure 1: Radiation damage in DNA.

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Sanche, L. Beyond radical thinking. Nature 461, 358–359 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/461358a

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