The SCIENCE BEHIND THE HULK
Gamma mutation
Bruce Banner due to a freak accident in an experiment is granted superpowers due to a massive dose of gamma radiation turning him into 'The Hulk'. Throughout the film Dr. Bruce Banner is on a search to find a cure to get rid of these supposed ‘super powers’.
In reality however gamma radiation is lethal in high enough doses for humans as gamma rays are apart of the high-frequency end of the electromagnetic spectrum (2).
In previous Hulk films (2003) Bruce’s father was also exposed to excessive doses of gamma rays which mutated his sperm cells which resulted in mutations in Bruce's DNA. These mutations allowed Bruce to survive the excess exposure to gamma radiation in the 2008 film, where such radiation further mutated his cells turning him into the Hulk. Strangely enough it is put forward that whoever is injected with Bruce’s blood also turns into the Hulk (2).
In reality however gamma radiation is lethal in high enough doses for humans as gamma rays are apart of the high-frequency end of the electromagnetic spectrum (2).
In previous Hulk films (2003) Bruce’s father was also exposed to excessive doses of gamma rays which mutated his sperm cells which resulted in mutations in Bruce's DNA. These mutations allowed Bruce to survive the excess exposure to gamma radiation in the 2008 film, where such radiation further mutated his cells turning him into the Hulk. Strangely enough it is put forward that whoever is injected with Bruce’s blood also turns into the Hulk (2).
The reality of gamma radiation
So can humans gradually become immune to radiation?
The answer is no, radiation can mutate genes which can be passed through generations but not to the extremes in the Hulk.
Gamma rays are tiny particles that are transmitted as light and as the nucleus decays, high amounts of energy are released.
Gamma rays have a wavelength below 10^-12 m and a frequency above 10^ 20 Hz. The amount of energy emitted is enough to penetrate body tissues creating free radicals/ions in the human body. These free radicals can interact with other molecules in the body which ultimately causes more ions to accumulate with continued radiation.
This ionizing radiation causes mutations such as deletions, duplications, inversions and translocations as breaks are created within DNA.
Looking a little deeper into DNA damage by means of gamma radiation …
As gamma rays penetrate DNA phosphodiester bonds (covalent bond between a phosphate group and a sugar molecule) which make up the DNA backbone are broken (4). Alternatively gamma radiation can cause a double stranded break in DNA. The problem lies when the cell attempts to repair the damage which ultimately results in mutated DNA as some of the genetic material is lost or changed (5).
The level of gamma radiation that Bruce Banner was exposed in reality would result in death of the individual due to radiation sickness or incineration rather than the accumulation of mutations allowing for super human abilities.
The answer is no, radiation can mutate genes which can be passed through generations but not to the extremes in the Hulk.
Gamma rays are tiny particles that are transmitted as light and as the nucleus decays, high amounts of energy are released.
Gamma rays have a wavelength below 10^-12 m and a frequency above 10^ 20 Hz. The amount of energy emitted is enough to penetrate body tissues creating free radicals/ions in the human body. These free radicals can interact with other molecules in the body which ultimately causes more ions to accumulate with continued radiation.
This ionizing radiation causes mutations such as deletions, duplications, inversions and translocations as breaks are created within DNA.
Looking a little deeper into DNA damage by means of gamma radiation …
As gamma rays penetrate DNA phosphodiester bonds (covalent bond between a phosphate group and a sugar molecule) which make up the DNA backbone are broken (4). Alternatively gamma radiation can cause a double stranded break in DNA. The problem lies when the cell attempts to repair the damage which ultimately results in mutated DNA as some of the genetic material is lost or changed (5).
The level of gamma radiation that Bruce Banner was exposed in reality would result in death of the individual due to radiation sickness or incineration rather than the accumulation of mutations allowing for super human abilities.
case study - chernobyl
26 April 1986, explosions at reactor number four of the nuclear power plant at Chernobyl in Ukraine, resulted in huge amounts of radioactive materials into the atmosphere. It spread over countries in Europe, but especially over large areas of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine.
The increased exposure of radiation resulted in the increased incidence of thyroid cancer especially in young children and adolescents who lived in the most radioactively contaminated areas (7).
In Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine nearly 5, 000 cases of thyroid cancer have now been diagnosed to date among children who were aged up to 18 years at the time of the accident as specified by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Cases of certain types of leukemia (a distortion of blood cells) had also been reported (8).
The increased exposure of radiation resulted in the increased incidence of thyroid cancer especially in young children and adolescents who lived in the most radioactively contaminated areas (7).
In Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine nearly 5, 000 cases of thyroid cancer have now been diagnosed to date among children who were aged up to 18 years at the time of the accident as specified by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Cases of certain types of leukemia (a distortion of blood cells) had also been reported (8).
The elevated risk of leukaemia was first found among the survivors of the atomic bombings in Japan some two to five years after exposure. Recent investigations suggest a doubling of the incidence of leukaemia among the most highly exposed areas.
Cataracts are another consequence of ionising radiation exposure as the lens of the eye is very sensitive to radiation. The greater the dosage of radiation the faster cataracts appear. Cases of increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases and major birth defects have also been reported within the contaminated areas (9).
WHO also estimates there may be up to 9,000 excess cancer deaths due to Chernobyl among the people who worked on the clean-up operations, evacuees and residents of the highly and lower-contaminated regions in Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine (8).
Cataracts are another consequence of ionising radiation exposure as the lens of the eye is very sensitive to radiation. The greater the dosage of radiation the faster cataracts appear. Cases of increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases and major birth defects have also been reported within the contaminated areas (9).
WHO also estimates there may be up to 9,000 excess cancer deaths due to Chernobyl among the people who worked on the clean-up operations, evacuees and residents of the highly and lower-contaminated regions in Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine (8).