DR. SHILLING next) introduced Dr. Max Zeille to discuss the genetics
program.
GENETICS
DR. ZELLE pointed out that he observed a distinct change in
point of view and emphasis since his last term of office
with the Division six years ago.
He saw the increased
interest as an opportunity of exploiting radiation and
isotopes in studies of basic or fundamental genetics.
He observed that this should not interfere with the
primary objective.
He spoke of an attempt being made
to extract additional data from some of the early large
scale studies sponsored by the Manhattan Engineering District. DR. ZELLE
spoke of the work being done at Oak Ridge and at the Argonne National
Laboratory.
He spoke also of suggestions which had been made by
Dr. Sterling Emerson shortly before he left as to areas in which there
should be more emphasis. These include certain aspects of consanguifious
marriage studies, surveys of children of parents who had received known
radiation exposure, increased support of human genetics in medical
colleges, studies cf radiation on nuclear proteins and studies of the
chemical nature of genes and other self-reproducing cellular constituents.
DR. EMERSON also believed that fundamental genetics studies should be
increased just to learn more about mutation and also a study to determine
the radiation induced mutation rate in other animal species than the
mouse.
In answer to a question by DR. WARREN concerning studies in
Japan of consanguinous marriages, DR. ZELLE said that it was expected
that it would take two years to gather the data and two additional
years to analyze them.
After Dr. Zelle's presentation, there was
considerable general discussion by Committee members and Dr. Beadle on
the subject of genetics.
DR. SHILLING then introduced DR. PAUL HENSHAW, who spoke on the subject
of human radiobiology.
He spoke of the NCRP Committee studying radiation
injury with which the Division had been cooperating.
He
also discussed the efforts being made by Dr. Karl Morgan's
HUMAN
group at Oak Ridge to give attention to more accurate
RADIOBIOLOGY
dosimetry with respect to the ABCC cases.
This involved
certain studies being conducted at the Nevada Test Site.
DR. SHILLING then introduced MR. HERBERT TALKIN, who spoke on plans for
future dosimetry studies at the NTS.
It is planned to duplicate or
stimulate the Hiroshima or Nagasaki bombs and obtain more
accurate dosimetry in Japanes=type houses which were to
DOSIMETRY
be constructed.
There had been preliminary studies made
AT NTS
during the current series in two Japanese-type houses which
had been constructed.
DR. WARREN inquired as to whether
there had been a continued heavy rate of attrition as far
as the ABCC patients were concerned.
DR. DUNHAM stated that there is much
better cooperation with the Japanese at the present time.
DR. CANTRIL
asked if continuing attention was still being paid to the induction of
thyroid cancer secondary to the treatment of hyperthyroidism.
Although
there had been no evidence of the development of cancer in patients treated
with radioiodine, he expressed the opinion that this should be followed
further.
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