> Spike Jones wrote: ...when C14 undergoes beta decay, the
> > remainder is a nitrogen atom. looks like the dna chain would
> > be broken there. would the cell then be dead?...
> Peter Passaro wrote: As to whether it breaks the chain, that is dependent
> on
> the trajectory of the electron emitted by the decay. ...
why is that peter? the carbon atom emitting the electron becomes a nitrogen, so the compound must change chemically. i dont see what difference the beta decay electron trajectory makes. (?) spike