Radiation genetics

In 1925, in experiments on yeast cells and molds, G. N. Nadson and G. F. Filippov revealed the effect of ionizing radiation on the genetic apparatus of the cell , accompanied by hereditary transmission of newly acquired traits. So, examining the effect of x-rays on the sexual process in lower fungi, they drew attention to the appearance of individual orange colonies. The study of these new forms of mushrooms showed a sharp difference from the original culture - they were able to form fats and orange pigment . Observation of fungi for many generations showed that we are talking about inherited changes, thus, it was found that X-rays have a mutagenic effect. In 1927, G. Möller confirmed this on Drosophila, and then L. Stadler on corn.

Studies were then conducted on mice and other organisms.

Chromosomal abnormalities usually occur when cells are irradiated in the G1 period (presynthetic period) of the cell cycle, before doubling the genetic material. Irradiation of cells in the G2 period (postsynthetic period) can cause damage to only one chromatid in the chromosome. The frequency of chromosomal aberrations in circulating lymphocytes correlates with the radiation dose, and therefore the value of this dose can be established by comparing the number of chromosomal aberrations in lymphocytes and in a cell culture that received a certain dose of ionizing radiation in vitro . The minimum dose that can be detected by lymphocyte analysis is approximately 10 to 20 rem . [one]
Detection of chromosomal aberrations in lymphocytes is evidence of recent exposure to the body.

• Dubinin N.P. Problems of radiation genetics. - M .: Atomizdat , 1961
• Dubinin N.P. Molecular genetics and the effect of radiation on heredity. - M., 1963
• Shapiro N. I. Radiation genetics, in the book: Fundamentals of radiation biology. - M., 1964
• Timofeev-Resovsky N.V. , Ivanov V.I., Glotov N.V. Some issues of radiation genetics, in the book: Actual problems of modern genetics. - M., 1966
• Zakharov I.A., Krivisky A.S. Radiation genetics of microorganisms. - M., 1972

• http://www.oval.ru/enc/59183.html
• Karl Sax
• [2]
• Medal "For success in radiation genetics" named after V.A. Shevchenko