[sci.bio] effect of X rays on food

mikey@bambam.WELLESLEY.EDU (Heather Corbett) (02/02/90)

	Your food is fine; think how many crates of oranges go through 
checkers every year! X rays are damaging to living systems because they
can with certain dosages cause point mutations in replicating DNA; that
is, when the cell divides and DNA copies itself, it pairs up with the wrong
component. However, since someone is going to eat this food, not breed it,
s/he should be quite alright. Now, if we used microwave checkers, it might be
a touch *warm*...