SOME EFFECTS OF IRRADIATING SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS OF HYMENOLEPIS DIMINUTA
A study was undertaken to determine some of the cumulative effects of radiation on Hymenolepis diminuta. The cysticercoids of the worms in Tribolium confusum were subjected to 15,000 r gamma radiation. These irradiated cysts were fed to rats of the same sex and of comparable age, weight, worm burden, genetic background, and care. The eggs from these worms were fed to beetles, and the cysticercoids were subjected again to a dose of 15,000 r. The whole process was repeated for eight successive generations, thereby building up the cumulative dose to 120,000 r. Length of worms, variation of lengths of worms within the same host, anomalies of proglottids, abnormalities of reproductive organs, and the infectivity of cysticercoids were observed in the unirradiated, and the progeny of 60,000 r and 120,000 r groups of worms, and analysis of variance was done wherever reasonable. Results show that repeated irradiation tends to inhibit growth, increase the frequency of various anomalies, perhaps decrease the number of testes per proglottid, and perhaps diminish adaptive value of individuals. Selection pressure opposes each of the above effects of radiation. The two forces acting together bring about a sort of stability. The present study is useful in evaluating the relative stability of any given morphological character for taxonomic purposes, and also emphasizes differences among characteristic anomalies in terms of their sensitivity to radiation. (M.P.G.)
- Research Organization:
- Originating Research Org. not identified
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-021575
- OSTI ID:
- 4714927
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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