Mouse minisatellite mutations induced by ionizing radiation.

The detection of changes in germline mutation rate in human populations remains extremely difficult. Estimating the genetic hazards of radiation and other mutagens in humans therefore depends on extrapolation from experimental systems. Because of the very low frequency of spontaneous mutation at most loci, enormous samples are required to detect increases of mutation rate. A very high rate of spontaneous germline mutation altering the length of minisatellite loci has been found in human populations and therefore this system might be useful for detecting induced mutations in relatively small samples. Here we present evidence that minisatellite mutation rate in mice is increased by low doses of ionizing radiation.