Trans-generational effects of radiation exposure from the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant accident: A review of studies using mutation markers of repeat DNA sequences

We have only the genetic risk assessment of radiation exposure, which was estimated from the data of spontaneous mutation rates in human Mendelian diseases and chronic multi-factorial diseases, and the data of the radiation-induced germline mutations of experimental mice. Studying the possible trans-generational effects induced by radiation exposure from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident is important in order to discuss the reassessment of the genetic risk of radiation. People who were exposed to the radiation from the Chernobyl accident form another large population, other than the atomic survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki where the radiation exposure was quite different. This review focuses on the studies using mutation markers of repeat DNA sequences which is relevant to the radiation exposures that resulted from the Chernobyl accident. (J.P.N.)