Hereditary Effects of Radiation

Radiation-induced damage to germ cell DNA in the gonads can result in gene mutations, with mutation rates increasing alongside radiation dose. Similar to late somatic effects, radiation does not generate novel mutations but heightens the frequency of spontaneous ones. The mutation rate in male germ cells is higher than in female germ cells. However, the likelihood of mutation transmission decreases if conception occurs further from the time of exposure.^5,6,8,11