In 1996 Dubrova and others published a paper which showed an increased rate of mutations in the minisatellite35 genome.36 Children, who had been born between February and September 1994 in the Mogilev region, whose fathers and mothers had always lived in the villages of Bykhov, Krasnopolye and Cherikov, were examined by means of DNA fingerprinting (Fig. 14). They were compared with a control group of sex- and- age matched caucasian children from non-contaminated regions in England. By correlating the level of ground contamination with the mutation rates in the two groups the researchers discovered, on average, a twofold increase in the mutation rate of the minisatellite genome.

Figure 14 Examples of human minisatellite germline mutation. DNA profiles were produced for each father (F), child (C) and mother (M) using probes 33.15, MS1, MS31, MS32 and CEB1. New mutant bands are arrowed.

Martin Walter, MD and Andreas Nidecker, MD: “Evidence of genetic effects by ionizing radiation: greater risks at the transgenerational level”, Human rights, future generations & crimes in the nuclear age, CONGRESS, 14 – 17 SEPTEMBER 2017, UNIVERSITY OF BASEL