Accession Number:

AD0473898

Title:

Operation Crossroads. A Comparison of the Effects of Test Able Atomic Bomb Ionizing Radiation and X-Rays on Seeds of Barley, Wheat and Oats

Descriptive Note:

[Technical Report, Final Report]

Corporate Author:

JOINT TASK FORCE (ONE) WASHINGTON DC

Personal Author(s):

• Smith, Luther

Report Date:

1947-01-01

Pagination or Media Count:

22

Abstract:

This report discusses an investigation on the biological effects of atomic bomb ionizing radiation. A large variety of biological material including animals, seeds, grain insects, bacteria, fungi, etc., were distributed on twenty-two target ships prior to the detonation of the Test ABLE bomb July 1st 1946. Barley seeds were selected as one of the test objects because of their excellent fitness for determining the effects of irradiation on mutation frequency. Young and old seeds were included in order to study the effect of age on sensitivity to irradiation. Seeds of Durum tetraploid, common wheat hexaploid, and common oats hexaploid were included in the tests in order to have results from polyploid plants for comparison with information obtained from the non-polyploid barley.

Descriptors:

• genetics
• x rays
• ionizing radiation
• materials
• nuclear bombs
• radiation
• agriculture
• frequency
• genes
• government procurement
• governments
• national security
• plants
• wheat
• bombs
• chromosomes
• explosions

Subject Categories:

• Radiobiology

Distribution Statement:

[A, Approved For Public Release]