Radiation induced inversions in human somatic cells

Peri- and paracentric inversions induced by various types of ionizing radiation (gamma and alpha-rays, neutron and neon beams) are analysed. Their frequencies significantly increase for radiation doses greater than or equal to .5 Gy. Their distribution does not seem to be at random. Pericentric are detected 3 to 4 times more frequently than paracentric inversions. Some identical inversions are recurrently induced. A proportion reproduces inversions detected in human cytogenetics laboratories and a larger proportion, chromosomes of other primate species. It seems that breakages, which numbers are roughly proportional to chromosome lengths, lead to reassociations with a limited number of combinations.