Mutagenesis induced by XeCl laser radiation

In this work the mutagenic effect on Escherichia coli strains of UV radiation emitted by a XeCI laser (lambda=308 nm, tau=20 ns, 100 mJ pulse energy) has been analyzed as a function of the exposure dose and compared with the effect induced by 254 nm radiation emitted by a conventional germicidal lamp. Mutations can involve any genome site and therefore can give rise to various phenotypes, which then can be suitably selected. As a consequence, the impact of the induced mutagenesis is outstanding, both in scientific and industrial fields. In particular suitable doses of UV radiation can induce mutations, while higher doses can cause cell death, due to the induction of manifold damages to DNA