Mutagen

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Mutagens are external influences that trigger gene mutations or chromosome aberrations , i.e. change the genome of an organism. A distinction is made between physical mutagens such as radiation and high temperatures, chemical mutagens such as B. nitrosamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and biological mutagens such. B. HP viruses and Epstein-Barr viruses. The ability to induce mutations is known as mutagenicity , sometimes with reference to an organ such as e.g. B. Germ cell mutagenicity .

Mutagens lead to a mutation via DNA damage . The normal mutation rate (frequency with which one or more genes change) in higher organisms is 10 −5 - 10 −9 per gene and generation. Mutagens cause this natural mutation rate to increase.

Mutagens

Well-known examples of mutagens are:

The Ames test is one of the simplest and most common tests used to determine a chemical as a mutagen.

Categories according to the CLP regulation

According to the CLP regulation , substances can be classified in the hazard class "germ cell mutagenicity" with categories 1A, 1B and 2 due to their germ cell mutagenicity. Substances and mixtures of categories 1A and 1B are identified with the hazard pictogram "Health hazard" (GHS08) and the signal word "Danger", the H phrase H 340 and the corresponding P phrases. Category 2 substances and mixtures are labeled with the hazard pictogram "Health hazard" (GHS08) and the signal word "Caution", the H 341 and the corresponding P-phrases.

Category 1A

Substances known to cause heritable mutations in human germ cells. The classification is based on positive findings from epidemiological studies on humans.

Category 1B

Substances known to cause heritable mutations in human germ cells. This assumption is generally based on: suitable long-term animal studies, other relevant information.

Category 2

Substances that can trigger hereditary mutations in human germ cells. Some evidence is available from suitable animal experiments, but this is not sufficient to classify a substance in Category 1.

See also

Individual evidence

  1. Entry on mutagens. In: Römpp Online . Georg Thieme Verlag, accessed on June 7, 2014.

Web links

Wiktionary: Mutagen  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations