Labelling index data showed that in AG1518 cells, a diploid human fibroblast strain, there was a lag period of at least 14 hours between subculture from the density-inhibited plateau phase of growth and entry into DNA synthesis. Cells irradiated with 254 nm wavelength U.V. light 8 hours after subculture did not exhibit the same degree of resistance as cells irradiated in plateau phase and subcultured immediately. When cells were arrested from proliferation by maintenance in an arginine and glutamine deficient medium for 72 hours, they were nearly as resistant to U.V. light as plateau phase cells although maintenance in this medium for 24 hours after irradiation supported further recovery only after low U.V. doses. One strain of Cockayne syndrome fibroblasts was found to be resistant to U.V light in plateau phase while another strain was found to have the same survival response whether it was irradiated in the plateau or log phase of growth.