PLANT MUTATION IN CHERNOBYL

Scientists have found that 14 years after the Chenobyl disaster, radiation causes excessive gene mutation in plants across the polluted territory of Ukraine. Experimenting with wheat has shown the mutation rate in it to be 6 times as high compared to the norm. The scientists say the findings have surprised them, since the soil received a comparatively low radiation dose. Researches admit that it is not yet completely known what effect ionizing radiation has on the soil in the long run. It is thought that plant genes damaged by staying in polluted soil may hand over distorted information to descending generations.