Genotoxicology

The term genotoxicology denotes a branch of research that studies the effects of toxic substances on the genetic material of cells, which lead to changes in genetic information.

Genotoxic substances increase the error rate in the reduplication of the genome and cause mutations through damage to the DNA . If these occur in the germ cells , they are passed on to the offspring and lead to birth defects or hereditary defects. If body cells are affected, cell death, an increased risk of disease or cancer can result. In principle, the authorities require several different tests (e.g. ML / TK test , HRPT gene , Ames test , UDS test ) to test the genotoxicity or mutagenicity of a new substance. Both bacteria and mammalian cells are used to detect gene mutations and chromosome aberrations.