Question

List and briefly describe the three general effects of mutagens on DNA. Provide an example for each (i.e. how did the mutagen change the parent strand, and how will the daughter strand be affected?)

Answer 1

Three effects of mutagens are as follows:

• mutagens are genotoxic

?mutagens causes changes in the genetic material of an organism . Eg:- UV rays are genotoxic as it affects the transcription and replication of DNA which causes cell death

mutagens are carcinogenic

Deliterious mutations with impaired or loss of function and accumulation of such mutations causes cancer

Eg:--aromatic amines and amides causes accumulation of mutations and results in cancer of bladder,breasts,thyroid etc

mutagens are clastogens

clastogens are substances which causes chromosomal breakage,rearrangement of chromosomes such as translocation,deletion and inversion

Eg:- benzene,ethylene oxide causes increase in the frequency of abnormal germ cells leading to the development of fetal defects