The Japanese Phobia of Mutation There is a plethora of different phobias that exist in the world. Many of these phobias occur across a multitude of cultures, such as the fear of heights, or the fear of the dark. These fears often are instinctual, and often are comparable to the instincts that our ancestors used to survive. Some phobias that people are affected by are culture-specific. Phobias can either be irrational, such as the fear of clowns, or rational, like the fear of spiders, or the fear of hungry lions. In Japanese culture, the fear of radiation and mutation is both rational, and culture-specific. Japan has become fearful of genetic mutation, as a result of the horrific bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as the nuclear
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Many believe that the long term effects of radiation will cause them to have genetic mutations or diseases. These feared mutations can be as fatal as cancer and leukemia. These fears, although startling and frightening, are not completely unreasonable. As stated in the Center for Nuclear Studies at Columbia University “though exposure to radiation can cause acute, near-immediate effect by killing cells and directly damaging tissue, radiation can also have effects that happen on a longer scale, such as cancer, by causing mutations in the DNA of living cells” (Hiroshima and Nagasaki). These mutations and diseases not only pertain to the current generation, but could also reveal themselves in future generations. As stated in a study by the Radiation Effects Research Foundation. “When…cells are exposed to radiation, the risk of hereditary disorders may be increased” (The Genetic Risk). There has been evidence of mutation found in Fukushima, which proves that the Japanese have reason to fear mutation in their future …show more content…
These reports have proven the validity of the Japanese phobia of mutation. A report on rt.com, which involves a study published by Scientific Reports, states that mutated butterflies have been located near the nuclear plant in Fukushima. In this study:
Researches said that around 12 percent of pale grass blue butterflies that had been exposed as larvae to nuclear fallout developed abnormalities, including broken or wrinkled wings, changes in wing size, color pattern changes, and wider-than-normal variations in numbers of spots on the butterflies (Fukushima Mutant).
Not only have mutations been reported in butterflies, but there have also been reports of mutations in daisies as well. Rossiya Segodnya, who works for the Russian government news agency, Sputnik, reports that:
“‘mutant daisies’ found near Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant are… raising concerns about the long-term effects of the now four-year-old disaster, and the safety of the areas… particularly as [the] government moves to lift evacuation orders…”(Mutant
Many believe that the long term effects of radiation will cause them to have genetic mutations or diseases. These feared mutations can be as fatal as cancer and leukemia. These fears, although startling and frightening, are not completely unreasonable. As stated in the Center for Nuclear Studies at Columbia University “though exposure to radiation can cause acute, near-immediate effect by killing cells and directly damaging tissue, radiation can also have effects that happen on a longer scale, such as cancer, by causing mutations in the DNA of living cells” (Hiroshima and Nagasaki). These mutations and diseases not only pertain to the current generation, but could also reveal themselves in future generations. As stated in a study by the Radiation Effects Research Foundation. “When…cells are exposed to radiation, the risk of hereditary disorders may be increased” (The Genetic Risk). There has been evidence of mutation found in Fukushima, which proves that the Japanese have reason to fear mutation in their future …show more content…
These reports have proven the validity of the Japanese phobia of mutation. A report on rt.com, which involves a study published by Scientific Reports, states that mutated butterflies have been located near the nuclear plant in Fukushima. In this study:
Researches said that around 12 percent of pale grass blue butterflies that had been exposed as larvae to nuclear fallout developed abnormalities, including broken or wrinkled wings, changes in wing size, color pattern changes, and wider-than-normal variations in numbers of spots on the butterflies (Fukushima Mutant).
Not only have mutations been reported in butterflies, but there have also been reports of mutations in daisies as well. Rossiya Segodnya, who works for the Russian government news agency, Sputnik, reports that:
“‘mutant daisies’ found near Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant are… raising concerns about the long-term effects of the now four-year-old disaster, and the safety of the areas… particularly as [the] government moves to lift evacuation orders…”(Mutant