Influence of sex on the radiation-induced life span modifications in Drosophila melanogaster.

Drosophila melanogaster is exposed to 0, 25, 50, 75 kr of 60Co gamma-irradiation at 1,000 r/min, on the 4th day of its imaginal life. As a result, the life span of the flies is reduced for both sexes. Females, however, are more radiosensitive than males. In females, the radiation-induced life span shortening does not vary with the doses administered; in males, on the contrary, the life expectancy decreases as the dose is increased.