Janus Experiments
Encyclopedia
The Janus Experiments investigated the effects of exposure to neutron radiation
and gamma radiation on mice and dogs. They consisted of ten large scale experiments conducted at Argonne National Laboratory
from 1972 to 1989. To explore various relationships, the studies varied radiation type, dose rates, total dose and fractionation
. The work formed the basis of dozens of publications in the medical literature (see Grahn et al. reference).
The original studies were funded by the United States Department of Energy
. Later grants from NASA
and additional funding from the Department of Energy enabled researchers at Northwestern University
to make the data public through mouse http://janus.northwestern.edu/janus2/ and dog http://janus.northwestern.edu/dog_tissues/ portals that permit radiation researchers to search for and request specific tissues from the studies' archives. These resources continue to be used in studies of radio-sensitivity, for example, at the laboratory of Gayle Woloschak at Northwestern Universityhttp://janus.northwestern.edu/wololab.
Neutron radiation
Neutron radiation is a kind of ionizing radiation which consists of free neutrons. A result of nuclear fission or nuclear fusion, it consists of the release of free neutrons from atoms, and these free neutrons react with nuclei of other atoms to form new isotopes, which, in turn, may produce...
and gamma radiation on mice and dogs. They consisted of ten large scale experiments conducted at Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne National Laboratory is the first science and engineering research national laboratory in the United States, receiving this designation on July 1, 1946. It is the largest national laboratory by size and scope in the Midwest...
from 1972 to 1989. To explore various relationships, the studies varied radiation type, dose rates, total dose and fractionation
Fractionation
See also: Fractionated spacecraftFractionation is a separation process in which a certain quantity of a mixture is divided up in a number of smaller quantities in which the composition changes according to a gradient. Fractions are collected based on differences in a specific property of the...
. The work formed the basis of dozens of publications in the medical literature (see Grahn et al. reference).
The original studies were funded by the United States Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
. Later grants from NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
and additional funding from the Department of Energy enabled researchers at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
to make the data public through mouse http://janus.northwestern.edu/janus2/ and dog http://janus.northwestern.edu/dog_tissues/ portals that permit radiation researchers to search for and request specific tissues from the studies' archives. These resources continue to be used in studies of radio-sensitivity, for example, at the laboratory of Gayle Woloschak at Northwestern Universityhttp://janus.northwestern.edu/wololab.