The Influence of Wave-Length on Genetic Effects of X-Rays

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Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster [male][male] were treated with x-rays of 0.9 A and 2.2 A and the frequency of induced X-chromosome lethals was detd. by genetic methods. Males were treated individually in a specially designed chamber where their abdomens were compressed to a thickness of about 0.15 mm. to reduce the absorption of these soft rays. The method used in measuring the dosage (in r units) is descr. The mean frequency of lethals among the sperm obtained from a cfc? treated with an average dosage of 1354 r at 0.94 A is 3.59%; the frequency of lethals among the sperm of [male][male] treated with 1376 r at 2.2 A is 3.5%. The frequency of lethals per unit dose is, within the exptl. accuracy, the same for both wave-lengths. This indicates that these genetic changes are not produced by direct activations within a gene but they are probably in the nature of sensitized reactions induced by the transfer of energy from neighboring activated molecules.

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