Among the various methods for studying the relative effects of transmutation and radiation of incorporated nuclides, simulation of beta radiation by external gamma exposure is of practical importance. Self-irradiation and mutual irradiation of the labeled cells cannot be neglected in any case. Furthermore, additional hypothetical and experimental problems may arise from using either external beta radiation or different isotopes of an element. By means of external gamma irradiation on the other hand, this being equivalent to the internal beta radiation from a microdosimetrical point of view, the radiation effect of the nuclide alone can be observed without any modification of other experimental parameters. To determine such equivalent gamma radiation for labeled cell nuclei of Vicia faba roots, the authors applied the Monte Carlo Method to the beta spectra of 32-P, 3-H, 14-C and 131-J, to the energy-dependent LET and to different cell diameters. The existence of secondary particle equilibrium inside the nuclei during gamma exposure was assumed. For certain radionuclides and cell sizes it is possible to calculate gamma spectra which induce energy spectra in the nuclei similar to those caused by the beta particles originating in the nuclear DNA.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.