What factors contribute to determining the relative radiosensitivity of a cell?

The relative radiosensitivity of a cell is influenced significantly by its maturity and mitotic activity.

Maturity refers to the developmental stage of a cell. Immature, rapidly dividing cells, such as those found in embryonic tissues or certain types of cancers, tend to be more sensitive to radiation. This increased sensitivity is partly because these cells are still undergoing critical processes necessary for growth and division, making them more vulnerable to the damaging effects of radiation.

Mitotic activity is the rate at which a cell divides. Cells that are actively dividing are generally more radiosensitive because radiation has a more significant impact during certain phases of the cell cycle, particularly during mitosis. When cells are in a state of division, they are less able to repair the DNA damage caused by radiation. Therefore, cells with high mitotic activity will exhibit greater radiosensitivity compared to those that are quiescent or in a resting phase.

Both of these factors work together to determine how susceptible a cell is to the harmful effects of radiation, making this option the correct one in assessing relative radiosensitivity.