RADIATION-INDUCED MUTATION RATES IN FEMALE MICE

Journal Article · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1958 · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.44.9.901· OSTI ID:4304297

Russell, W L; Russell, L B; Gower, J S; Maddux, S C

Mutation rates in females have been measured by the specific locus method in two experiments. A relatively small experiment with acute x rays, at a dose which rapidly sterilizes females, was nevertheless sufficient to show that if the average risk of equal exposure of both sexes to acute x rays is calculated on the basis of the far more reliable rate determined in males, the hazard will almost certainly not be underestimated by more than a factor of 2. An experiment with chronic gamma rays, which allowed almost normal fertility of the females, has, to date, given a rats of 5 x 10/sup -8/r/ locus with a 95 per cent confidence interval of 0.8 to 18 x 10/sup -8/. This rats is significantly below that of 28 x 10/sup -8/r/locus found in males irradiated with a similar dose of acute x irradiation. Possible reasons for the lower rate are discussed. Whatever the explanation turns out to be, the results indicate that the mutation rats in women exposed to chronic gamma radiation may be less than that estimated from our earlier yardstick, namely, the mutation rate obtained from acute x irradiation of male mice. (auth)

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-12-016890
• OSTI ID: 4304297
• Journal Information: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S., Journal Name: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S. Vol. Vol: 44
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE