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Natural Ionising Radiation and Rate of Mutation

Abstract

ABOUT a year ago there appeared in these columns a communication by A. R. Olson and G. N. Lewis on natural radioactivity and the origin of species (NATURE, April 28, 1928, p. 673), in which it was suggested that the natural ionising radiation of the earth plays an important part in evolution. It was pointed out that the relative effects of rays of different frequency upon the production of variants have not been experimentally ascertained, but that since the rays can only be effective when absorbed, and thus produce ionisation, it seems safe to assume that the various rays will produce biological effects in proportion to the ionisation they cause.

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BABCOCK, E., COLLINS, J. Natural Ionising Radiation and Rate of Mutation. Nature 124, 227–228 (1929). https://doi.org/10.1038/124227b0

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