Approximate Confidence Intervals for Specific Locus Mutation Rates

A method is proposed for constructing approximate confidence intervals for specific locus mutation rates. The assumptions on which the method is based have been tested by an analysis of published data on mutation rates, and the results of the analysis indicate that the assumptions are conservative. This implies that if the method is in error, it will lead to confidence intervals which are too large rather than too small. The method is applied to data from radiation experiments with Drosophila and mice, and the results support a conclusion made by Russell (1951, 1956) that the spermatogonia mutation rate in mice is higher than the spermatogonia mutation rate in Drosophila.