The offspring of irradiated parents, are they stable?
Mutation induction in directly exposed cells is currently regarded as the main component of the genetic risk of ionising radiation for humans. However, recent studies showing that exposure to ionising radiation results in elevated mutation rates detectable in the non-irradiated progeny of exposed cells challenge the existing paradigm in radiation biology. This review describes some recent data on radiation-induced genomic instability in vitro and mainly focuses on the in vivo phenomenon of transgenerational instability, where elevated mutation rates are detected in the non-exposed offspring of irradiated parents. The possible mechanisms and implications of transgenerational instability are also discussed.
Barber
Ruth C
RC
Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, United Kingdom. rcb6@le.ac.uk
Dubrova
Yuri E
YE
D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D042822:Genomic Instability; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D009154:Mutation; D010290:Parents; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing
D004247:DNA