The effects of gamma radiation from 60 Co and 137 Cs on DNA in aqueous solution are studied experimentally. Using an improved plasmid purification protocol and improved electrophoretic gel analysis techniques provided results with relatively small uncertainties. The results are compared with both theoretical and experimental results. In particular, the results obtained here are discussed in the light of recent discussion on supposed differences of the effects induced by gamma radiation from 60 Co and 137 Cs. We find that the effects of both types of gamma radiation are similar.Keywords Double-strand breaks . Single-strand breaks . Scavenger-derived radicals . Ionizing radiation . pBSKS + DNA . Gamma effects Irradiation of purified DNA molecules has been extensively used during the last decades for studying the interaction of ionizing radiation with DNA [1-13]. The results obtained in such in vitro experiments are, in many aspects, in qualitative agreement with those from irradiation of cells and tissues. For instance, the increase of cell apoptosis as a function of the delivered dose resembles, qualitatively, the increase of SSB (single strand break) and J Biol Phys (2007) 33:155-160
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