Question

(Coose as many as you deem correct)

In an Ames test for mutagenicity, rat liver enzymes are accidentally excluded from the compound under test. What can you say about the result?

a) the mutation rate will for sure rise.

b) the mutation rate will for sure decline.

c) certain mutagens may be missed from the test.

d) There could be false positives (chemicals mistakenly identified as mutagens)

Answer 1

AMES test is used to quantify the mutagenicity of a chemical.

In this method, revertants of a mutant phenotype are taken as the quantitative measure of mutagenic nature of a compound.

This procedure involves addition of rat liver enzymes to simulate the in vivo environment for the degradation of the mutagen (Liver is the major organ that detoxifies chemicals)

If a liver enzymes are not added,

1. Mutation rate will increase for mutagenic substances

2. Certain compounds inherently may possess mutagenic property but they can be ineffective in vivo due to degradation by liver enzymes. So, such compounds can be picked up as false positives.