THYMIDINE INCORPORATION IS LESS SENSITIVE TO LACK OF ZINC IN HUMAN THAN IN RODENT CELLS

The inhibition of thymidine incorporation by inadequate availability o f zinc induced by adding a chelator to the culture medium was signific antly less in human cell lines than in rodent cell lines. In contrast, zinc uptake into the human cells was inhibited. by the chelator to a greater extent than with rodent cells. The possible implications of th ese observations for the dietary zinc requirements of humans and roden ts are discussed.