28th Annual Student Research Conference
Ionizing Radiation Mutagenesis in the Absence of Oxygen
Trevor J. Leighton
Dr. Neil J. Sargentini (A.T. Still University) and Dr. Laura Fielden, Faculty Mentors
In terrestrial organisms, radiation mutagenesis typically occurs in the presence of oxygen. The presence of oxygen creates the oxygen effect for ionizing radiation damage, whereby the impact of radiation damage is increased about threefold. Therefore, cells irradiated in the absence of oxygen are more resistant to radiation mutagenesis. A 160 kV x-ray generator was used to introduce ionizing radiation to E. coli strands, which were then incubated in an anaerobic growth chamber. This experimental setup mimics what happens to radiation-damaged extraterrestrial organisms that exist in an oxygen-poor environment that still supports life. This study is novel in that the irradiated strains were not just irradiated and grown in anoxic conditions, but processed in such conditions as well.
Keywords: Mutagenesis, Radiation, Radiation damage, E. coli, Anoxia, X-ray
Topic(s):Astrobiology
Biology
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 13-1
Location: GEO-SUB
Time: 3:30