GENETIC RADIATION DAMAGE REVERSAL BY NITROGEN, METHANE, AND ARGON

Abstract
Drosophila males were irradiated during various stages of spermatogenesis in the presence of varying combinations of gases in different proportions to study the oxygen effect and how it may be countered or prevented. Evidence is presented that the oxygen effect in enhancing radiation damage leading to dominant lethals or sex-linked recessive lethal mutations can be countered by nitrogen, argon or methane under conditions of adding 9 atmospheres of argon, nitrogen, or methane to 1 atmosphere of air or oxygen during irradiation. Carbon monoxide increases damage above that seen with these gases.