Many SCIENTIFIC studies were done on the aftereffects of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs and there has been ZERO genetic damage attributable to those blasts in humans. Lots of problems with those directly exposed, but none passed down to the next generation; even to children in the womb when the bombs went off.
This astounded me when I read it, so I followed up on it (skeptically) and found it to be true. Direct radiation does tremendous cell damage, but it is not passed to the progeny, at least not a rate that is discernable above the background mutation rate. It seems that spontaneous aborting is much more likely than some genetic damage in a bomb environment.
If you doubt me, pls contact the biology department of your local community college(not the high school as I've found many HS teachers to lack basic science knowledge).
message edited for clarity only-Keith
This message has been edited by krater on Jan 13, 2005 10:39 AM