Heavy Ion Induced Dna Radiation Damage Studies

Research on biological damages caused by various ionizing radiations is the frontier area of radiobiology and radiology. It is also the hot spot included in recent public focus. This research has closed relationship with a wide range of cross-science areas, such as basic research on cancer therapy by heavy ion radiation method, radiation danger level evaluation in space and biological damage induced by long term, low-level radiation environment, etc.With the recent development of molecular biology and invention of sophisticate instruments, research on biological damages caused by various ionizing radiations has dug into the microcosmic world. Microbe, cells and some kinds of purified DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) molecule have become the regular study samples. DNA molecule is the carrier of biological information and the main target of biological effects induced by ionizing radiations. The process, from the beginning of radiation to the following bio-effects, is very complicated. The damage of DNA is the most basic and important sector in this process. Meanwhile, the double strand break(DSB) of DNA molecule is the primary damage of all bio-effects induced by ionizing radiation. The study of the physics mechanism of the DSB on DNA molecules in the early period of ionizing radiation is very important.Using the advanced atomic force microscope (AFM), nuclear physics and molecular biology technology, the DNA samples were observed experimentally in nanometer scale and clear images were obtained. We get a lot of experiences during the observation, we also design and produce the Liquid Cell for scanning bio samples on AFM; For the further experiment, we design the 24lAm a source radiation device, predict the DSB damage images on DNA molecules after radiated by a particle, together with some first-step statistical results on possibility of DSB.