Abstract
IN current estimates of the genetic hazard of ionizing radiations to man1,2 four important assumptions are made : (1) that the mutagenic effect of a given radiation dose to the gonads is independent of dose-rate ; (2) that the relationship of mutation-rate to accumulated dose is linear ; (3) that the spectrum of radiation-induced mutation is similar to the spectrum of spontaneous mutation, and (4) that a dose of about 30–80 rads induces as much mutation as occurs spontaneously per generation (‘doubling dose’). Assumptions (1), (2) and (3) derive largely from experiments with Drosophila ; assumption (4) derives in part from the fact that a spermatogonial doubling dose of this order was estimated for seven specific genes in the mouse from observations of the spontaneous mutation-rate3,4 and from experiments4 in which adult males were given a high X-ray dose at a high dose-rate (600 rads, 90 rads/min.), the validity of assumptions (1), (2) and (3) being presupposed.
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References
Medical Besearch Council, “The Hazards to Man of Nuclear and Allied Radiations” (H.M.S.O., London, 1956).
National Academy of Sciences “The Biological Effects of Atomic Radiation” (National Academy of Sciences—National Research Council, Washington, 1956).
Carter, T. C., Lyon, M. F., and Phillips, R. J. S., data quoted by Carter T. C., in “Advances in Radiobiology”, edit. by de Hevesy, G. C., Forssberg, A. G., and Abbatt, J. D. (Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, 1957).
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Carter, T. C., Lvon, M. F., and Phillips, R. J. S., Brit. J. Radiol., 29, 106 (1956).
Kimball, A. W., Amer. Nat., 90 369 (1956).
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CARTER, T., LYON, M. & PHILLIPS, R. Genetic Hazard of Ionizing Radiations. Nature 182, 409 (1958). https://doi.org/10.1038/182409a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/182409a0
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