Journal of radiation researchDec 8, 2020

Effects of low-dose gamma radiation on fruit fly DNA and chromosomes

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Updated Apr 5, 2026

Abstract

Irradiation with doses of 20-75 mGy in females and 50-100 mGy in males may induce to low-dose radiation.

Low-dose radiation (LDR) exposure is associated with varying effects on the multiple wing hair (mwh) gene in Drosophila melanogaster.
In females, small spot eruption frequency increased with LDR exposure of 20-75 mGy, suggesting hypersensitivity.
Higher doses of 200 and 300 mGy in females decreased small spot frequency, indicating potential .
In males, hypersensitivity was observed at 50 and 100 mGy, while radioresistance occurred at 75 and 200 mGy.
For large spots in females, hypersensitivity was noted at 75 mGy, while 100-800 mGy indicated radioresistance.

Simplified

While the damage to chromosomes and genes induced by high-dose radiation (HDR) has been well researched in many organisms, the effects of low-dose radiation (LDR), defined as a radiation dose of ≤100 mSv, are still being debated. Recent research has suggested that the biological effects of LDR differ from those observed in HDR. To detect the effect of LDR on genes, we selected a gene of Drosophila melanogaster, known as the multiple wing hair (mwh) gene. The hatched heterozygous larvae with genotype mwh/+ were irradiated by γ-rays of a 60Co source. After eclosion, the wing hairs of the heterozygous flies were observed. The area of only one or two mwh cells (small spot) and that of more than three mwh cells (large spot) were counted. The ratio of the two kinds of spots were compared between groups irradiated by different doses including a non-irradiated control group. For the small spot in females, the eruption frequency increased in the groups irradiated with 20-75 mGy, indicating (HRS) to LDR, while in the groups irradiated with 200 and 300 mGy, the frequency decreased, indicating (IRR), while in males, 50 and 100 mGy conferred HRS and 75 and 200 mGy conferred IRR. For the large spot in females, 75 mGy conferred HRS and 100-800 mGy conferred IRR. In conclusion, HRS and IRR to LDR was found in Drosophila wing cells by delimiting the dose of γ-rays finely, except in the male large spot.

Key numbers

20 of 75 mGy

Increase in Small Spot Frequency

Frequency of small spots in females irradiated at 20-75 mGy.

200 and 300 mGy

Decrease in Frequency for

Doses where frequency of small spots decreased in females.

75 and 200 mGy

Decrease in Frequency for in Males

Doses where frequency of small spots decreased in males.

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Effects of low-dose gamma radiation on fruit fly DNA and chromosomes

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