[N. V. Timofeev-Resovskiĭ and the development of molecular radiobiology of eukaryote gene].

The nature and mechanisms of formation of spectrum and frequency of gene mutations induced by ionizing radiation of different quality have been the two key interdependent problems in radiation mutagenesis (at the gene level) of higher eukaryotes. The history of both problems, that were first given consideration by N.W.Timofeeff-Ressovsky, a known Russian radiobiologist and evolutionist, has been followed up. The author emphasizes some characteristic features of methodology of those works and shows that negative consequences for the development of the theory of radiation mutagenesis of higher eucaryotes are unavoidable if the study on the problems is carried out with the use of different approaches and test-systems. The joining up of both methods used by N.W.Timofeeff-Ressovsky in various time periods and for different purposes (analysis of the spectrum and frequency of mutations of individual genes, on the one hand, and modification analysis of the processes that lead to these mutations, on the other) and the use of current molecular and genetic methods signifies a qualitatively new stage in studying the above-mentioned problems and the onset of a new scientific orientation, that is, molecular radiobiology of an eukaryote gene.