A cancer developing years after radiation exposure is an example of which type of effect?

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Multiple Choice

A cancer developing years after radiation exposure is an example of which type of effect?

The main idea here is distinguishing where radiation effects appear. Cancer that shows up years after exposure is a somatic effect, because it occurs in the person who was irradiated and does not get passed on to offspring. Genetic effects, by contrast, would involve mutations in germ cells that could be inherited by future generations. So although radiation can cause both types in different situations, the described cancer is a somatic, not a genetic, effect.

The main idea here is distinguishing where radiation effects appear. Cancer that shows up years after exposure is a somatic effect, because it occurs in the person who was irradiated and does not get passed on to offspring. Genetic effects, by contrast, would involve mutations in germ cells that could be inherited by future generations. So although radiation can cause both types in different situations, the described cancer is a somatic, not a genetic, effect.

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