The Genetic Effects of Low Intensity Irradiation

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Abstract
A previous observation that low dosage gamma rays (52.5r admd. continuously at rate of 2.5 r/day for 21 days) failed to increase the mutation rate in Drosophila is rechecked with special attention to possibility of low sensitivity of aged sperm, dependence on a time factor at low in- tensity irradiation, and errors in sampling. It is concluded that irradiation with low dosages at low intensity induces mutation in Drosophila sperm, and that over non-lethal range of intensity mutation rate is proportional to intensity of irradiation.