Genetic effects of high-LET radiations in mice.

Abstract

Despite pioneering work by Snell and Aebersold (1, 2) nearly thirty years ago, our ignorance of the genetic effects of high-LET radiations in mammals was until recently almost complete. Large-scale studies now in progress on the genetic effects of fast neutrons in mice are rapidly changing the situation, however, so that a fairly coherent picture of one aspect of this subject is already emerging. This picture is one of high genetic effectiveness under most, but not all, conditions of irradiation. In the present paper we shall give the latest results of our own work in this field, then shall discuss these results in conjunction with those of other workers. In this manner, we hope to arrive at an overall view of the present state of knowledge, especially with regard to the immature germ-cell stages which are most important from the standpoint of long-term risk to populations. Preliminary results of a comparison of the genetic effectiveness of chronic neutron and y-ray exposures have already been published (3), and a full account of this experiment will appear shortly (4).