Age-related change in the frequency of spontaneous sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and chromosornal aberrations were investigated in bone marrow cells of accelerated senescence-resistant mice (SAM R1) and senescence accelerated ones (SAM P1). And the effect of chronic treatment of ginseng extract (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) on these chromosomal abnormalities was tested in SAM P1. SCE frequency in the cells was progressively increased with age in both mice, but it was consistently higher in SAM P1 than in SAM R1 at all corresponding age. Chromosomal aberrations were, however, not significantly changed with age except that it was slightly increased in only aged SAM P1. Interestingly, the rate of these genetic instabilities in SAM P1 was remarkably retarded by long-term administration of ginseng water extract (0.05% in drinking water). These results suggest that frequency of spontaneous SCE in bone marrow cells increase in parallel with senescence of the mice, and SAM P1 is in the condition of being more exposed than SAM R1 to DNA damaging factors. These also indicate that long-term treatment of ginseng may reduce the genetic damage.