Inherited Differences in Sensitivity to Radiation in Escherichia Coli

Abstract

The study of spontaneous and radiation-induced mutations is at present our best approach to the investigation of genetic mechanisms in bacteria. Mutations involving resistance to destructive agents (bacteriophage (1) penicillin(2)) are especially suitable for genetic analysis, since resistant mutants can easily be detected in bacterial cultures. This preliminary report concerns a mutation in Escherichisa Coli leading to resistance to both ultraviolet radiation and x-rays, which was detected by exposing samples from normal cultures to high doses of radiation