Radio Activity

More Tests Of Radio Activity On Niue

From a Niue Correspondent A recent visitor to Niue Island vas Dr. David G. Futch from the lenetics Foundation of the Tim ers ity of Texas to carry out esearch into the genetic effects

ntroduced in living organisms

hrough exposure to radio

ctivity.

VIUE, of course, is well known now for its high radio activity. >r. Futch’s visit was a follow up to me made by Dr. Stone and Dr.

Vheeler from the University of 'exas last year.

Dr. Futch said that the studies icing made of material from Niue sland were a part of a long term ivestigation into genetic effects in luced in living organisms through xposure to atomic radiation.

“Niue is of special significance for : is a place where living material can ie collected from an area of high aturally occurring radiation,” he said.

He concentrated on an unin labitated but cultivated spot in the entral part of the island. Previous neasurements of radio activity by Sir Ernest Marsden and others at various pots around the island had indicated hat, although that particular spot /as high in radio activity, the levels ear inhabited areas were not ignificantly above normal levels.

Tests On Flies During his stay Dr. Futch col ected flies of the genus Drosophila rom that area of high radio activity.

He reared the larvae produced by he flies to examine their chromo omes for any physical damage which night have been produced in the •arents by exposure to radiation.

Other material used were white >lood cells from persons who may lave had contact with the area or vith food plants cultivated in it.

When he left in the Tofua in July )r. Futch took blood and flies with lim for shipment to the University »f Texas, where the blood cells will >e placed in culture. Their chromo omes will be examined microsco )ically, and the flies will be tested hrough breeding experiments.