Figure 4: This diagram gives the impression that alpha particle breaks the DNA, the beta particle breaks hydrogen bonds, and X-γ rays damage bases when in fact all three types of radiation can cause direct damage. However, heavy charged particles such as α particle have a greater probability of causing direct damage compared to low charged particles such as X-rays which may cause the most of its damage by indirect effects. Radiation mediates DNA mutations by insertions or deletions of DNA sequences, resulting in apoptosis, cancer, and tissue toxicity.