How does the human body respond to radiation exposure?

The human body responds to radiation exposure primarily through complex biological repair mechanisms that aim to fix damaged DNA and cells. When radiation interacts with biological tissue, it can cause a variety of cellular damages, including breaking DNA strands and altering cellular structures. To mitigate these impacts, the body has evolved sophisticated systems that identify and repair this damage, such as DNA repair pathways that can correct harmful mutations or apoptosis, where severely damaged cells undergo programmed cell death to prevent the proliferation of potentially cancerous cells.

This response is critical because unaddressed cellular damage from radiation can lead to adverse health effects, including cancer and other radiation-induced diseases. The repair mechanisms are essential for maintaining cellular integrity and overall health in the face of environmental threats like radiation. Other options suggest different types of responses that aren't the primary method of dealing with radiation damage, such as producing more cells or shutting down functions, which do not directly address the repairing needs presented by radiation exposure.