PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (S ): Howard J. Curtis, and Harold H. Smith 



EXPERIMENT TITLE/NUMBER : Effect of HZE Particles on Corn Seeds 



PROGRAM/MISSION : Discoverer XXXII 



CLASSIFICATION : Plant - Corn seeds (Zea mavs ) 



DISCIPLINE(S) : Radiobiology 



OBJECTIVES : To verify predicted radiobiologic effects of heavy cosmic ray 

 primary particles (HZE particles) on corn seeds. 



PROTOCOL : The corn seeds (of a special genetic stock for coloration change 

 from green to yellow) were flown in the Discoverer spacecraft, recovered, and 

 examined for genetic defects. A control package was kept under similar 

 conditions . 



EQUIPMENT : Container for corn seeds. 



RESULTS : There were no differences between the flight samples and control 

 samples. 



CONCLUSIONS : The impact of HZE on genes in corn is minimal. No genetic 

 defects were observed. 



PUBLICATIONS : 139 



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