X-Ray Sensitivity Changes in Meiotic Chromosomes

Abstract

The relative effects of x-rays on different stages of meiosis and on microspore resting nuclei have been investigated in Trillium erectum. The ratio of chromosome aberrations was roughly 1:2:6:9:1 for early meiotic pro-phase, pachytene, metaphase, anaphase and post-meiotic resting nuclei respectively. It is argued that since stages of high sensitivity to x-rays also have a high content of desoxyribose nucleic acid and v. v., sensitivity to radiation may be correlated with nucleic acid metabolism. The relationship of the findings to tumor sensitivity is discussed.