Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Radiation effects in Caenorhabditis elegans, mutagenesis by high and low LET ionizing radiation

  • Gregory A. Nelson
  • , Wayne W. Schubert
  • , Tamara M. Marshall
  • , Eric R. Benton
  • , Eugene V. Benton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The nematode C. elegans was used to measure the effectiveness of high-energy ionized particles in the induction of 3 types of genetic lesions. Recessive lethal mutations in a 40-map unit autosomal region, sterility, and X-chromosome nondisjunction or damage were investigated. Induction rates were measured as a function of linear energy transfer. LET∞, for 9 ions of atomic number 1-57 accelerated at the BEVALAC accelerator. Linear kinetics were observed for all 3 types of lesions within the dose/fluence ranges tested and varied strongly as a function of particle LET∞. Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) values of up to 4.2 were measured and action cross sections were calculated and compared to mutagenic responses in other systems.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)181-192
Number of pages12
JournalMutation Research - Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis
Volume212
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1989
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Keywords

  • Action cross sections
  • Caenorhabditis elegans
  • Dose-response curves
  • High LET ionizing radiation
  • Lethal mutation
  • Nematode
  • Relative Biological Effectiveness

Cite this