THE GENETIC DANGER OF SMALL RADIATION DOSES FOR MAN AND THEIR EFFECT ON THE HEREDITY OF MONKEYS AND RODENTS

摘要

The harmful effect of affection of genetic structures in embryonic cells manifests itself in the following generations, beginning with the first one and continuing through to very distant ones. Besides it is necessary to take into consideration the effect of radiation on the genetic structures in somatic cells whose number is enormous in each individual. In this case the genetic changes may lead to the emergence of somatic effects in individuals directly subjected to radiation and sometimes long after the exposure. Among such genetically specific somatic effects extremely menacing are the many malignant new growths (neoplasm) and in particular leukemia.nThe importance and the complexity of the problem require a careful quantitative analysis of the effect of small and of other radiation doses on the heredity of man. However, the data obtained directly on man can only be of a haphazard character. Therefore, to evaluate the genetic danger of radiation various species of mammals are used as experimental airmails.