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Mutation and inactivation of mammalian cells by various ionising radiations

Abstract

THERE is almost no information on the mutagenic effectiveness of the various ionising radiations for man and only limited information about radiations other than X or γ rays for experimental mammals. We have measured inactivation and mutation induction in cultured mammalian cells exposed to various radiations covering a range of linear energy transfer (LET; ref. 1). We show for two cell types that the maximum mutagenic effectiveness of these radiations, relative to X or γ rays, is about twice that for inactivation. Preliminary experiments suggest that specific chromosome aberrations may be associated with mutations induced by radiations of high LET.

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Cox, R., THACKER, J., GOODHEAD, D. et al. Mutation and inactivation of mammalian cells by various ionising radiations. Nature 267, 425–427 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/267425a0

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