Somatic effects refer to which of the following?

• A. Effects of radiation that cause illness but are not passed on to offspring
• B. Genetic effects transmitted to future offspring
• C. Immediate skin burns only
• D. No biological effect at all

Answer: (A)

Somatic effects are changes that occur in the person who is exposed to radiation and are not inherited by future generations. They can show up as illness or tissue damage—like skin changes, radiation sickness, or an increased risk of cancer—depending on how large the dose is. This is different from genetic effects, which would be passed on to offspring. The option describing illness caused by radiation but not passed to offspring best captures this idea. The other ideas describe hereditary effects, or are too narrow (like only immediate skin burns), or suggest there is no effect at all, which isn't accurate.