The principle effect of ultravoilet radiation is that it damages the DNA of the cells due to which the cells die. Thymine is amongst the basis in the making of DNA. When UV rays are incident on the surface it leads to a reaction between two thymine molecules whoch results in the formation of a thymine dimer. This is repaired by replacing the gaps with a nucleotide.
The amount of dimer formation depends upon the duration for which the surface is exposed to UV radiation. The more the more the exposure, the more the formation of dimer. Now, it might happen that diring the correction of this the replacement goes wrong and we miss a dimer. Due to this the cell which has got its DNA damaged will not be able to perform the functions alloted to it. In some cases this failure in correction leads to development of cancerous cells in the body.
Get Answers For Free
Most questions answered within 1 hours.