Severe abnormalities' found in Fukushima butterflies

www.bbc.co.uk...

Six months later, they again collected adults from the 10 sites and found that butterflies from the Fukushima area showed a mutation rate more than double that of those found sooner after the accident.

The team concluded that this higher rate of mutation came from eating contaminated food, but also from mutations of the parents' genetic material that was passed on to the next generation, even though these mutations were not evident in the previous generations' adult butterflies.

The team of researchers have been studying that particular species butterfly for more than 10 years.

Six months later, they again collected adults from the 10 sites and found that butterflies from the Fukushima area showed a mutation rate more than double that of those found sooner after the accident.

The team concluded that this higher rate of mutation came from eating contaminated food, but also from mutations of the parents' genetic material that was passed on to the next generation, even though these mutations were not evident in the previous generations' adult butterflies.

The team of researchers have been studying that particular species butterfly for more than 10 years.

Well this does not bode very well for us does it if the rate of mutation is increasing in butterflies does this necessarily mean all forms of life can expect the same levels of increased mutations - unfortunately it is the local population especially who will be the 'lab' for this experiment and the rest of us on our rock to a lesser degree.
I'll be very interested in seeing the same studies done on local sea life too.