In 1986, a meltdown of a nuclear reactor in the city of Chernobyl, in Ukraine, released highly radioactive chemicals into the atmosphere. As a result, people suffered various forms of cancer because of exposure to these radioactive chemicals. Cancerous cells divide much more often than noncancerous cells and form tumors in the body.
A scientist claims that these cancers were caused by harmful mutations. He wants to make a model to support his claim.
Which statement best describes what the scientist’s model needs to represent in order to support his claim?


A)
The radioactive chemicals burned people’s skin, which increased cell division rates in the people who developed cancer.
cross out

B)
The radioactive chemicals polluted people’s food, which changed some people’s ability to digest proteins and caused cancer.
cross out

C)
The radioactive chemicals caused structural changes in people’s genes, which changed how proteins functioned in cell division.
cross out

D)
The radioactive chemicals polluted people’s drinking water, which caused cells to divide more quickly in the people’s bodies and form tumors.