Effects of X-Rays on Size of Yeast Cells. ∗

Summary

When yeast cells were exposed to 20,000 r of x-rays and cultured in liquid medium, they and their descendants attained a mean cell volume more than twice that of cells derived from nonirradiated controls. On the other hand, there were no corresponding differences in specific gravity and nitrogen content per unit of cell volume. It is accordingly concluded that enlargement of yeast cells after irradiation is largely a nonselective increase in cell constituents rather than a swelling due mostly to uptake of water.