Chemical mutagenesis of mammalian cells can be quantified.

Abstract

STUDY of mammalian genetics has been traditionally limited to conventional breeding experiments, which are limited by high cost, long duration and the availability of well-characterised genetic markers. These factors have especially impeded rapid progress in mammalian mutagenesis studies. Many of the mechanisms underlying the process of mutation induction in mammals can be investigated through the use of mammalian cells in culture1–5, but the use of cultured cells for quantitative analyses of mutagenesis has been hampered by the lack of a suitable mutation–induction system, particularly with chemical mutagens. We show here that quantitative dosimetry of chemical mutagenesis can be studied in a mammalian cell culture system. This will allow not only studies of the mechanisms of chemical mutagenesis, but also an estimate of the genetic hazard of chemical agents in the environment.