Radiation Biology Unveiled: Decoding DNA Damage, Cellular Stress Networks, and the System-Wide Consequences of Ionizing Radiation

This book examines the biological impacts of ionizing radiation across scales, from molecular damage to ecosystem-level disruption. It begins by outlining how radiation induces DNA lesions and oxidative stress via reactive oxygen species, activating cellular defense systems and DNA repair pathways, including homologous recombination and non-homologous end joining. When repair is inefficient or inaccurate, cells undergo mutation, apoptosis, or senescence, compromising tissue function. The discussion then expands to organismal responses, highlighting effects on growth, reproduction, and survival under both acute and chronic exposure conditions. At broader scales, these biological disruptions influence population dynamics, biodiversity, and trophic interactions, ultimately affecting ecosystem stability and resilience. By integrating molecular biology, environmental science, and systems-level analysis, the book provides a cohesive framework for understanding radiation-induced stress and its long-term ecological consequences in both natural and human-impacted environments.