Abstract
The viscosity of DNA at moderate concentrations is largely due to interactions between the particles and is not related in a simple way to the polynucleotide chain length. It is possible to destroy the abnormal viscosity without any appreciable change of molecular weight (Butler, Gilbert and James, 1952). Viscosity changes cannot therefore be taken as due solely to breakages of the nucleotide chain resulting from the oxidation of the sugar. The after-effect is also a complex process in that it may be the consequence of oxidations or peroxidations arising from the direct action of the radicals and of the slow action of hydrogen peroxide which is known to be formed, especially in oxygenated solutions. Our experiments were designed to discover the part played by hydrogen peroxide; it was found that hydrogen peroxide, although not capable of accounting for the whole effect, was present in sufficient quantity in the irradiated oxygenated solutions to produce a slow effect which was certainly not negligible.
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