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Title: Genetic effects of plutonium in Drosophila. Final technical report

Abstract

This three year project, initiated in 1987, involved the genetic effects of alpha radiations on Drosophila. This document represents the final technical report. Plutonium residue was used as the alpha source of radon gas. Spontaneous mutation frequency in the Drosophila stock was very low. In the experiments using alpha radiation from radon gas, radiation doses as low as 20R induced significant numbers of mutations, with higher numbers of mutations at higher doses. If X-ray induced mutation frequencies reported in the literature are used for comparison, it can be concluded that alpha radiation from radon gas induces at least 2 to 3 time more mutations in Drosophila.

Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Alabama A and M Univ., Normal, AL (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
83810
Report Number(s):
DOE/CH/10330-T1
ON: DE95014926; TRN: 95:005409
DOE Contract Number:
FG02-87CH10330
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: [1995]
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE, APPLIED STUDIES; DROSOPHILA; GENETIC RADIATION EFFECTS; MUTATION FREQUENCY; RADON; RADIATION DOSES

Citation Formats

NONE. Genetic effects of plutonium in Drosophila. Final technical report. United States: N. p., 1995. Web. doi:10.2172/83810.
NONE. Genetic effects of plutonium in Drosophila. Final technical report. United States. doi:10.2172/83810.
NONE. Sat . "Genetic effects of plutonium in Drosophila. Final technical report". United States. doi:10.2172/83810. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/83810.
@article{osti_83810,
title = {Genetic effects of plutonium in Drosophila. Final technical report},
author = {NONE},
abstractNote = {This three year project, initiated in 1987, involved the genetic effects of alpha radiations on Drosophila. This document represents the final technical report. Plutonium residue was used as the alpha source of radon gas. Spontaneous mutation frequency in the Drosophila stock was very low. In the experiments using alpha radiation from radon gas, radiation doses as low as 20R induced significant numbers of mutations, with higher numbers of mutations at higher doses. If X-ray induced mutation frequencies reported in the literature are used for comparison, it can be concluded that alpha radiation from radon gas induces at least 2 to 3 time more mutations in Drosophila.},
doi = {10.2172/83810},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995},
month = {Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995}
}

Technical Report:

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  • Drosophila sex-linked recessive lethal mutation test was used to study the dose response relation and relative biological effectiveness of heavy ions. The experiments were performed using the heavy ion beams at BEVALAC of Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. These experiments were undertaken according to the proposed milestones and included Ne-20, Ar-40 and Fe-65 ions with respective energies of 600 MeV, 840 MeV and 850 MeV. At these energies several doses of these radiations ranging from 20 to 1280 R were used. Space radiation exposure to astronauts is supposed to be quite low and therefore very low dose experiments i.e., 20 R, weremore » also performed for the three ions. The mutation response was measured in all germ cell types i.e., spermatozoa, spermatids, spermatocytes and spermatogonia of treated Drosophila males. A linear dose frequency relation was observed for most of the range except at high doses where the saturation effect was observed. Also, a very significant difference was observed among the sensitivity of the four germ cell stages where spermatozoa and spermatids were more sensitive. At the higher doses of this range, most of the spermatogonia and spermatocytes were killed. Although comparative and identical experiments with X-rays or neutrons have not been performed, the compassion of this data with the ones available in literature suggest that the heavy ions have a high rbe and that they are several times more effective than low LET X-rays. The rbe compared to neutrons however appears to be only slightly higher.« less
  • ABS>Normal spermatogenesis in Drosophila virilis was studied by examining living cells by phase-contrast microscopy. Primary spermatocytes were observed to occur in cysts of eight cells. Histological analysis of sections from adult males indicated a two-day cycle in meiosis until the males are sexually mature at six days. Following the sixth day the number of immature cells in the testes decreased steadily without further peaks in the number of primary spermatocytes on alternate days. Spermatozoa were not motile and functional until the sixth day. Typical configurations of chromosomes during spermatogenesis, in spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and very early spermatids are presented. Results aremore » included from a series of tests to determine the effects of irradiation on Drosophila virilis males as measured by dominant lethal and translocation rates in cells at various stages of spermatogenesis and sperm differentiation. Males at different ages were irradiated under similar conditions and mated with mature virgin females within one hour after irradiation and left for five days. After this preliminary period, during which no fertile eggs were deposited, the males were remated to mature virgin females and daily egg counts were made. After a two-day mating period, the males were remated and egg counts made. This procedure was continued for a total of eight consecutive mating periods. Data are tabulated on rates of dominant lethals resulting from irradiation during various stages of spermatogenesis. ( C.H.)« less