Mutagenic effect of Ultra Violet (UV-C) on living organisms

Abstract

The increase in environmental pollution and the observed changes in the climate and the high depletion in the ozone layer wasattract the attention of scientists to study the solar radiation,especially UV-C because of its arrival in recent years to the surface of the earth and its devastating effect on living organisms such as humans, animals and plants. UV-C was the major reason ofskin mutations in humans, destruction of the immune system and the effect on physiological processes in animals and plants, and it may be a source of mutations inherited in plants through their impact on photosynthesis processes, the formation of proteins and the destruction of genetic material)DNA).This reflects on the morphological shape of the organism and causes a decrease in the productivity of some crops.The most important of these mutations that form in eukaryotic organisms such as humans, plants and animals, which were monitored in this review as a mutagenic effect of UV-C rays on living organisms: predominantly cyclobutane pyrimidine dimmers (CPDs) and pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidinone products [(6-4) PPs] on the genome.The aim of this review is to investigates the risks and damaging effects of UV-C radiation especially the mutagenic effect on human and other organisms, in addition to studying the mechanism of mutations on the genome of the organisms and the effect on its phenotypic characteristics. UV light especially UV-C radiation has strong genotoxic effect which induced mutations , so this radiation came from sun ray which is the major natural sours, despite the important benefits of sunlight, but it is a source of harmful rays, UV radiation causes what is known as photolesion in DNA by formation thymine dimers which is same in all organisms .