Question

Write a short notes on Amer test for mutagenicity.

Answer 1

The Ames Test combines a bacterial revertant mutation assay with a simulation of mammalian metabolism to produce a highly sensitive test for mutagenic chemicals in the environment.

    A rat liver homogenate is prepared to produce a metabolically active extract (S9). [Above] The extract is combined with a strain of his- Salmonellabacteria: in the absence of histidine, the bacteria are unable to grow on minimal medium (control result). [Below] The homogenate and bacterial strain are combined with a suspected mutagenic substance (X). The induction of revertant coloniesindicates that some his- bacteria have mutated (reverted) to his+ , and therefore that substance X is a mutagen