Molecular mechanisms of radiation-induced adaptive response in animal models

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Historically, the biological effects of low-dose radiation were estimated by extrapolating from the biological effects of high-dose radiation on Japanese atomic-bomb survivors, groups of exposed uranium miners, radium painters, or nuclear submarine builders. This extrapolation postulates that any dose no matter how small is potentially harmful. However, it was recently shown that the biological effects of low-dose radiation are considerably more complex. Living organisms have great capacity to 'withstand' or 'adapt' to radiation. Adaptive response is defined as the acquired radio-resistance after irradiation with low doses. In my NSERC funded project we have shown that plants can adapt to chronic irradiation and life in Chernobyl area by substantially re-shaping their genomes.