Heterozygous effects of radiation-induced mutations on viability in homozygous and heterozygous genetic backgrounds in Drosophila melanogaster (Preliminary report)

Abstract

Heterozygous effects of mutations induced by low doses of X-irradiation on viability were tested both in otherwise homozygous genetic background and in heterozygous genetic background in Drosophila melanogaster. On the basis of counting approximately 1.46 million flies, it was found that radiation-induced mutations which occurred in homozygous genetic background were heterozygously beneficial to their carriers, while those induced in hybrids between individuals originated from two unrelated populations were slightly detrimental to their carriers.