100 YEARS OF RADIOBIOLOGY - IMPLICATIONS FOR BIOMEDICINE AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

The development of radiobiology from the very early detection of the b iological action of X-rays to the knowledge of today is described in s ections on radiation chemistry and biochemistry, mutation and cancer i nduction, and embryonic damage, as well as the dependence of radiation response on radiation quality and temporal dose distribution (repair) and the interaction with other factors. For medicine radiobiology ser ves as a basis for radiotherapy and radiological protection. The effec t of very low doses, and their possible biopositive effect (hormesis a nd adaptive response), is also discussed, as are the health hazard of radon, health risks after the Chernobyl accident, and space radiobiolo gy. The radiobiology of the future will be concerned with biomolecular and genetic implications, problems of damage and repair, and connecte d problems like hormesis.