Two genetics students, let\'s call them John and Sam, got bored with their Droso

Question

Two genetics students, let's call them John and Sam, got bored with their Drosophila experiment. John suggested that they sneak the flies down to the Radiation Biology Lab for some extra treatment. While there, John exposed the flies and (oops!) Sam to Cs137, a powerful ionizing radiation source. It was a very short exposure, but John was worried. He became even more upset when wingless flies appeared in the irradiated, wild-type fly culture. He wondered whether Sam had also been mutagenized.

A. Given your knowledge of radiation's effects on DNA and the ability of mammals to handle acute radiation-induced damage, do you believe that Sam should be worried? What about Sam's future prospects as a father (assuming someone is deranged enough to oblige our hypothetical student)? Explain.

Explanation / Answer

No, Sam should not be worried much.

He might get symptoms like nausea, vomiting and headache.

Cs 137 will be removed by the body.

There is no problem again in Sam's future prospects in becoming a father.

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