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The influence of microwave radiation (λ = 3.8 mm, intensity P = 0.1 mW/cm²) on stocks and hybrids of Drosophila melanogaster was investigated. Irradiation at the egg stage negatively influences the reproductive ability and output of the imago, and induces significant changes in the eye pigmentation of the imago. The effect of radiation depends on the state of polarization of the radiation. Linearly polarized radiation and left circularly polarized radiation induce a decrease of pigmentation, right circularly polarized radiation induces an increase of it. As the amount of the pigment is connected with manifestation of the transinactivation effect and the reinforcement of the transinactivation effect is connected with an increase of the conjugation of homologous chromosomes, the authors draw the conclusion that left polarized radiation and linearly polarized radiation cause the reinforcement of the transinactivation effect. The authors suppose that the observed effect is connected with an increase of chromosome conjugation in the interphase nucleus; the action of the right circularly polarized radiation is connected with a reduction of the effect of transinactivation that, in its turn, is connected with a reduction of the conjugation of homologous chromosomes in the interphase nucleus.

microwaves; drosophila; reproductive ability; transvection; transinactivation; chromosomes; interphase nucleus