The production of chromosome structural changes by radiation

This paper attempts an update and comment upon some of the topics of chromosome aberration formation which Lea raised in Chapter VI of his classic work 'Actions of Radiations on living Cells'. Only the first nine sections of this chapter are covered, which deal primarily with the qualitative aspects of aberrations, their formation, classification and interrelationships. In commenting upon these topics, pertinent references are made to work with mammalian and human cells. Increased knowledge of the importance of DNA as a fundamental target and the integral part it plays in the complex structure of the chromosome, coupled with cellular techniques not available to these earlier workers necessitate some revision and modification of early ideas. However, inspite of the enormous accumulation of data and ideas since the original work was published in 1946, the foundation that these early workers laid is still very solid. Surprisingly, we are still puzzled by many of the problems that perplexed them.