Radiation-induced genomic instability, in which the progeny of irradiated cells display a high
frequency of nonclonal genomic damage, occurs at a frequency inconsistent with mutation.
We investigated the mechanism of this nontargeted effect in human mammary epithelial
cells (HMEC) exposed to low doses of radiation. We identified a centrosome-associated
expression signature in irradiated HMEC and show here that centrosome deregulation
occurs in the first cell cycle after irradiation, is dose dependent, and that viable daughters of …

For a long time it was generally accepted that effects of ionizing radiation such as cell death,
chromosomal aberrations, DNA damage, mutagenesis, and carcinogenesis result from
direct ionization of cell structures, particularly DNA, or from indirect damage through reactive
oxygen species produced by radiolysis of water, and these biological effects were attributed
to irreparable or misrepaired DNA damage in cells directly hit by radiation. Using linear non-
threshold model (LNT), possible risks from exposure to low dose ionizing radiation (below …