Genetics · 1969 · 81 citations · 1 references
HE genetic effects of ionizing radiations have now been studied extensively in a wide variety of systems. The study of their cumulative effects in populations has also been given increasing attention in recent years although, because of experimental difficulties, on a more restricted number of organisms. The effect of radiation on a population will be to alter its genetic constitution and, therefore, presumably, to affect the biological fitness. In order to relate these changes in fitness to specific genetic damage three prime conditions must be met. First, the genetic constitution must be exactly known at the commencement of the experiment; second, the accumulation of genetic damage must be closely followed; and third, direct and exact comparisons with control populations must be continuously possible.
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