In order to compare the sensitivity to radiations in the black and Norway rats, 400 to 750R γ-rays (Cs
137) are exposured to males, and they are mated to the non-irradiated females. Rate of chromosome mutations in the offspring thus obtained is 0.02 in both species. A hypothesis by the present author, that the black rat with a higher occurrence of chromosome mutation in the natural population is due to the heavy exposure from the natural radiation, seems to be indirectly proved by the present work.
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