Why are multiple specific bacterial tester strains used in the Ames test? Illustrate with a diagram, how can the toxic and mutagenic effects be distinguished from the anticipated results?
Multiple strains are used for this type of test because of the fact that there are different types of mutations. The strains are specifically designed to be tested for ONE type of mutation. From this, we get strains TA-1537 and TA-1538, used to test for frame shift mutations; and strain TA-1531, used for point mutations.
Also, the tester strains carry mutations for a variety of things. For example, the strains listed above carry muttions in histidine-synthesis genes. Other strains carry mutations for lipopolysccharide synthesis, excision repair systems, etc.
Given that a mutation is a RANDOM event (i.e. it an happen anywhere in the genome), and can be of different types, several tester strains must be used in order to find out how the putative mutagen alters the cells' genome.
Get Answers For Free
Most questions answered within 1 hours.