Chromosome Aberrations: Dicentric Chromosomes - Illustration
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Dicentric Chromosome

Notes on the graphs above:
  • Radiation exposure causes DNA strand breaks leading to abnormal chromosome replication, including dicentric chromosome formation. This figure illustrates the double-strand break.
  • Increases in radiation dose produce increasing numbers of aberrant (dicentric) chromosomes.
  • The number of dicentric chromosomes correlates well with radiation dose (i.e., increases in dose produce increased numbers of dicentric chromosomes).
Source: Dicentric chromosome - Genetic Home Reference, (NIH/NLM)