Cell killing and the frequency of mutation to thioguanine resistance (HGPRT enzyme deficiency) were measured after irradiation of cultured hamster cells with 250-kV X rays and with /sup 238/Pu ..cap alpha.. particles. The frequency of mutants induced by these ..cap alpha.. particles, for a given level of cell killing, was approximately twice that induced by X rays. This agrees with expectations from our previously published data on mutation induction by radiations of high linear energy transfer, but disagrees with another recently published report of the relative mutagenicity of /sup 238/Pu ..cap alpha.. particles. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.
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Thacker et al. (1982) studied this question.
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