Genetic Effects of Cosmic Radiation in Drosophila melanogaster

Journal Article · Sat Jan 04 04:00:00 EST 1964 · Nature (London)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/201096a0· OSTI ID:4126450

REDDI, O. S.; SANJEEVA RAO, M.

Dominant lethality was used as the measure of genetic effects of cosmic radiation on Drosophila melanogaster. Two groups of three-day-old Drosophila males were sent in plastic food cups into the stratosphere in a pressurized aluminum gondola at 8 deg N geomagnetic latitude to a height of about 20 miles. For the duration of 6 hr of flight, a dose of 0.18 to 0.20 mr/unit volume was received. After descent, one lot was tested for dominant lethals in 6 successive broods, while the other lot was screened for sex-linked recessive lethals and translocations. Dominant lethals were determined by hatchability tests. There was no evidence for an increased frequency of either recessive lethals or translocations. The hatchability tests, however, showed a consistent reduction in the first 3 broods of the treated series as compared with controls, while in later broods the difference became less significant and in one brood even reversed its direction. (M.C.G)

• Research Organization: Osmania Univ., Hyderabad, India
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-18-011755
• OSTI ID: 4126450
• Journal Information: Nature (London), Journal Name: Nature (London) Journal Issue: 4914 Vol. 201; ISSN 0028-0836
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AGE
ALUMINUM
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
COSMIC RADIATION
DROSOPHILA
GENETICS
GEOPHYSICS
INSECTS
MUTATIONS
POLYMERS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
SPACE FLIGHT
STRATOSPHERE
VESSELS