The oxygen effect and chromosome breakage

✍ Scribed by Swanson, C. P.

• Book ID: 102881450
• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1955
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 706 KB
• Volume: 45
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0095-9898
• DOI: 10.1002/jcp.1030450517

✦ Synopsis

The early data derived from studies dealing with the effects of ionizing radiations on tlie production of chromosome aberrations were readily understandable from a purely physical standpoint, and the concepts concerned with the interpretation of these data have been ably summarized by Ilea ('46). Emphasis is shifting from the physical to the chemical point of view, however, and this tendency to think of cellular damage in terms of radiation chemistry is forcing a revision of ideas (Gray, '53 ; Thoday, ' 5 3 ) . It is no longer possible to consider that the breakage of chromosomes and the later restitution and recombination of broken ends are the only events leading to the production of aberrations, for studies which have demonstrated that the final frequency of aberrations is subject to wide modifications by a number of supplementary physical and chemical means make it difficult, indeed, to avoid the conclnsion that ionizing rmliations produce a variety of primary changes in the chromosome. The nature of these initial changes has not pet been well elucidated, but at least for purposes of convenience the changes can be considered sites of damage which, by modifying the cellular environment, ' The studies reported here were supported by Contrarts No. W 7 4 0 5 r n g 2G (Oak Ridge) and Xo. At-(30-1 )-851, U. S. Atomic Energy Coinmission.

* A hrief version of this paper was presented to and pnblislied by tlie Radiohiology Symposiuni, LiPge, Belgium, 1934 ; figiirr 1 will also be presented 117 K. G. T,iiuing (1954) in ITererlitns.

Paper read a t this meeting by Ur. H. Rciitley Glass.