Monthly status Report, Biology and Medicine (Biophysics) A member of the Biophysics Sranch was assigned to the National Bureau of Standards Group on the Greenhouse Test and assisted them in their "Radiation dosage as a function of distance measurements", Final results of this work will appear in the Bureau of Stamards Greenhouse report. (Radiation Instruments) Fiftcen types of ‘EC sponsored or developed instruments were tested through Project 5.1 at Operation Greenhouse. The integrating type instruments included in ths program were tested by flying them through the atomic cloud in drone planes and by subjecting them, in blast proof housings, to ths prompt radiation. Ths dose rate type te ware tested under field conditions by carrying them into the ¢ontaminated area and comparing the readingswith those obtained similtaneously by the radiological monitors. It is felt that the tests were highly successful and will yleld valuable information with which to guide future development of instruments. The initial work leading to production engineering contractea for two Oak Ridge National Laboratory-—developed instruments has been completed. It is contemplated that a neutron survey mater and an alpha proportional counter will be carried through the production enginesring pheses, resulting in the production of 20 proto~ types of each instruvent. a Blological Effects of Radiaticn While the main efforts during the first eight montha of the project on Biological Effects of Radiation under the direction of Dr. John #. Gowan at Towa State Collece have been devoted to planning expanded and remodeled facilities and to expanding the breeding colony of mice to the mumbers that will ultimately be required, some significant results have been obtained from pilot experiments with Drosophila. Male and female drosophila were exposed to seven different doses of 100 KV X~rays ranging from QO to 1,000 r. Fair matings were made in all possible combinations with three replications making 147 pairs in all. Twenty-six different criteria were used to meagure the physiological effects of the radiation. In his progress report, Dr. Gowen presents graphs showing the relation of nine of the criteria to k-ray dosage. Seven of the nine GPO OFFICE > 16—55741-1 eeeee