The Atomic Age and Our Biological Future, by H.V. Brondsted

[p032] JM. Radiation Hazards The Atomic Age and our Biological Future, by H. V. Brondsted (Watts, 9s. 6d.) THIS little book presents for the non-technical reader the views of a modern ‘neo-Darwinian’ geneticist on the danger- ous effects which increases in hard X-ray radiation may have upon future generations of mankind. It is a sober book and its conclusions are certainly on the side of the angels. Any government should very seriously weigh the probable effects of increased radiation, whether from H-bomb tests or from atomic power units, upon succeeding generations. Pro- fessor Brondsted shows that evidence exists for believing that the rate of genetic mutation (i.e., the appearance of inherit- able changes in sperms and eggs) increases in proportion to the total quantity of radiation received and that, in human societies, which protect all their young, fit and unfit alike. harmful mutations will be more likely to survive than harm- less advantageous ones. I agree with the conclusions but would not follow Pro- fessor Brondsted far in his explanations. ‘Accidental’ mutations which increase in frequency as a result of radiation seem to me to have become less ‘accidental’ as a result of this discovery, i.e., it is not only mutation frequency which is changed by hard X-rays but also mutation character. Accordingly I would prefer to say that increased radiation causes harmful mutations. The point is not without practical importance. Some unscrupulous fascist-minded politician (definitely not Professor Brondsted) could argue from this classical Mendelian theory that increased radiation would improve the human race—so long as the harmful mutations (babies who are born deformed, blind, mentally- defective and so on) were destroyed. The frightfulness of this suggestion does not prove the falsity of the theory behind it, but so long as alternative genetical iheories remain ex- perimentally unconfirmed, I personally shall choose to believe the more humanitarian one. But an excellent book nevertheless.