Differential lethality following treatment with ionizing radiations of various energies inDrosophila

Summary Male and female gametes ofDrosophila were treated with various doses of ionizing radiations: X-rays at different energy, and gamma-rays from 2 sources given singly and in 2 temporal sequences. The induced lethality was assessed in successive developmental stages by scoring the number of eggs, larvae and adults. The results clearly show that the effects of various radiations appear in terms of difference among developmental stages and/or between treated sexes/genotypes. It is suggested that the various energies affected different gene functions which are not completely independent, as supported by the non-additive effects of the two temporal sequences.Acknowledgments. The authors wish to thank Prof. D.L. Palenzona for valuable discussion and criticism and Mrs C. Brunaleschi and Mr E. Boschieri for their technical assistance.