The ineffectiveness of chronic irradiation with neutrons and gamma rays in inducing mutations in female mice

Abstract

Hybrid female mice were exposed to 412 rads ⁶⁰Co γ rays or 80 rads fast neutrons (+ γ contamination) in 12 weeks and the amount of genetic damage in offspring was compared with controls. Frequencies of specific locus recessive and of dominant visible mutations were very low in the irradiated series, differing little from the control frequencies of nil. There were no significant differences between the sex-ratios of offspring in the three series, thus no evidence for the induction of sex-linked lethal mutations.