Question

If you were asked to set up an Ames test for your chemical company, would you use Salmonella Strain A or Strain B? Briefly explain your reasoning

Answer 1

Ames test is a biochemical test used for investigating carcinogenicity as well as mutagenicity of a chemical based upon the change in genotype, hence phenotypic behaviour of the organism in the culture plates.  

In this regard, Salmonella strain A represents to be a good choice for the model organism for conducting Ames test as it is an auxotroph and requires exogenous supply of histidine for sustaining life. If the chemical under test is mutagenic, the strain will no longer require exogenous histidine and considered to be mutated.