These figures are based on hundreds cof experimente in fruit flies,
eR
a fev very large experinants involving hundreds of thousands of mies
in which only seven gene locd have been studied, ani the large Inman
genetics atudy in Japan by the Atemie Bomb Casualty Comission plus a
few bunan genetics studies in non~-irradiated populations.
The exti-
mates are crade and must be improved. | There are needed additional careful human genetics studies involving a tremendous amount of work -~
taking advantage of documented consanguineous marriages and using blood
types as well as gross indices of gunetic change,
One of the big preb~
lene is the fact that many husan abnormalities -~ in fact, most — are
not clearly delineated as being censtieslly determined or developmental.
in origin, Indeed many of them, like nongoligm, seem to be the result
of beth genetio and enviromental factors.
It has been generally agreed that radiation sutations are cumla-
té.ve and direetly proportional to dose, dom to sero. Yet below 25 r
ne ataudles have been done in other than single-celled organiams.
Such
studies way never be dene in mammals, for in order to test accurately
even a few loal at 25 r would require an experiment involving a million
or more individuals,
This means that much more basie work will have to
be done at the macro-molecular level to establish once and for all that
the single hit concept of radiation induction of zene mutation which
segue to hold for bacteria, viruses and for the fruit fly hold for
nammals as well at low dose rates and with low total doses.
Mearmhile
we must aceept this hypothesis for there is little to no evidence to
the contrary,
Seti