[The selectivity of the mutagenic action of DNA and other polynucleotides].

A paper summarises the results of author's and his collaborators studies on the mutagenic action of DNA and other natural and synthetic polynucleotides. These results were published with rare exception in Russian and Ukrainian scientific journals. Analogous results obtained by other authors of several countries are also discussed. It was proved that unlike conventional physical and chemical mutagens, polynucleotides selectively induce visible and lethal mutations preferentially in certain genes, different in case of treatment with different polynucleotides. Polynucleotides often induce mutation in several non-allelic genes in a single germ cell of the host (multimutational effect). Polynucleotides do not induce gross chromosome aberration.