In what way might non-ionizing radiation affect living cells?

Non-ionizing radiation can indeed have effects on living cells, but its interaction is generally different from that of ionizing radiation. The correct choice highlights that while non-ionizing radiation, such as that from lasers, microwaves, or radio waves, can cause thermal effects or burns, it does not carry enough energy to ionize electrons or break molecular bonds, which means that the DNA in the cells typically remains undamaged.

The emphasis on burns indicates a potential effect of non-ionizing radiation on living tissues due to heat produced by absorbed energy. This thermal effect can lead to conditions like skin burns when the energy exceeds the body's ability to dissipate heat, but it does not lead to direct DNA damage or mutations as ionizing radiation would do.

In contrast, ionizing radiation has sufficient energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, leading to ionization directly in the cells and possible cell death or mutations. This is why the options related to DNA damage and mutations are not accurate in this context.