Abstract
A new approach for estimating genetic risk to humans from radiation is based upon an analysis of the frequency of induction of dominant mutations that cause skeletal abnormalities in mice. The main goal of this work is to improve estimates of the effect that an increase in the mutation frequency would have upon the incidence of serious genetic diseases in humans. The data obtained relate to dominant and irregularly inherited conditions in humans, which together constitute the great majority of human genetic diseases. The skeletal method could be used in chemical mutagenesis research in order to make a much more accurate risk-benefit analysis. A more likely application, however, is to provide a relatively quick and easy mammalian testing procedure for identifying mutagens. Dominant mutations at an unknown, but probably large, number of genetic loci could be detected. The relatively quick and easy procedure, which is described, has not yet been tested.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Ehling U. H. Dominant mutations affecting the skeleton in offspring of x-irradiated male mice. Genetics. 1966 Dec;54(6):1381–1389. doi: 10.1093/genetics/54.6.1381. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Selby P. B., Selby P. R. Gamma-ray-induced dominant mutations that cause skeletal abnormalities in mice. I. Plan, summary of results and discussion. Mutat Res. 1977 Jun;43(3):357–375. doi: 10.1016/0027-5107(77)90058-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Trimble B. K., Doughty J. H. The amount of hereditary disease in human populations. Ann Hum Genet. 1974 Oct;38(2):199–223. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-1809.1974.tb01951.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]