[Lethal and mutagenic activity of tritiated water and incorporated [3H-methyl]-thymidine on extracellular phage lambda].

A study was made of lethal and mutagenic effects on extracellular phage lambda of beta-particles from tritiated water and of [3H-methyl]-thymidine incorporated into DNA. It was shown that the mean lethal dose D10 and the yield of c-mutations per unit of the dose absorbed during external beta-irradiation in 3H2O or during the decay of incorporated [3H-methyl]-thymidine were equivalent to those obtained during 60Co-gamma-irradiation in 4% nutrient broth or at a dried state respectively.