title: Changing paradigms in radiobiology.
abstract: The last 25 years have seen a major shift in emphasis in the field of radiobiology from a DNA-centric view of how radiation damage occurs to a much more biological view that appreciates the importance of macro-and micro-environments, hierarchical organization, underlying genetics, evolution, adaptation and signaling at all levels from atoms to ecosystems. The new view incorporates concepts of hormesis, nonlinear systems, bioenergy field theory, uncertainty and homeodynamics. While the mechanisms underlying these effects and responses are still far from clear, it is very apparent that their implications are much wider than the field of radiobiology. This reflection discusses the changing views and considers how they are influencing thought in environmental and medical science and systems biology.
authors.affiliation: McMaster Institute of Applied Radiation Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1, Canada. Electronic address: mothers@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Carmel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: MotherSill
authors.affiliation: McMaster Institute of Applied Radiation Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1, Canada. Electronic address: seymouc@univmail.cis.mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Seymour
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D024201:Bystander Effect; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000528:radiation effects; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D042822:Genomic Instability / Q000528:radiation effects; D008954:Models, Biological; D011835:Radiation Protection; D011853:Radiobiology; D011878:Radiotherapy; D049490:Systems Biology