Mice, myths, and men Page: 4 of 69
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First, a few words relative to the title of this talk. There is no trouble in recognizing mice, and
usually no trouble in recognizing men, but how about myths? The definition of myth is: "an
explanation that is partially or wholly fictitious" (1). Under this broad umbrella, even a considerable
number of the current opinions about certain aspects of cancer might qualify. Biology is rife with
dogmas, and many a dogma has a good chance of becoming a myth in its old age. I am not going
to spend much time on myths. You will no doubt spot some as we go along and perhaps even in
some of the dogmatic statements that I make.
Alexander Pope knew of what he spoke when he wrote in 1773, "The proper study of mankind is
man, a being darkly wise and rudely great with too much knowledge for the skeptic side with too
much weakness for the stoic's pride.. ." (2). The studies of the effects of radiation on humans have
been a remarkable endeavor. While much of the emphasis has been on the estimate of risks for
radiation protection purposes, of equal if not greater importance is their role in revealing the nature
of cancer. The investment into the elucidation of the risks posed by radiation and how the deposition
of energy leads to the gallimaufry of effects at the molecular and cellular level, as well as on the
whole organism, has been large, but so has the return on that investment.
Despite the intensive efforts in epidemiological studies, it is unlikely that all the relevant questions
can be answered by such studies alone, for example, the stochastic effects of neutrons, protons, and
heavy ions, and the influence of dose rate and protraction. Experimental animal studies have roles
in the quest for answers to these questions and about mechanisms. It was not many years ago that
the differences between humans and experimental animals were considered so great that the value3
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Fry, R.J.M. Mice, myths, and men, report, December 31, 1994; Tennessee. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc676862/m1/4/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.