Chemically Induced Mutations and Their Bearing on Carcinogenesis

Tatum, E. L.

doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1947.tb30936.x

Cited by 25 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 48 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The fate of the system will be decided during the following 3 minute interval when, in the absence of 5-methyl tryptophan, reduction will take place. In the presence of 5-methyl tryptophan 96 per cent of the would-be lysogenics will produce phage. Thus, the irreversible reaction leading to the vegetative phase can proceed in the presence of 5-methyl tryptophan.…”

Section: Nongenetic Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lysogeny1

Lwoff¹

1953

Bacteriological Reviews

365

157

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Section: Nongenetic Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lysogeny1

Lwoff¹

1953

Bacteriological Reviews

365

157

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Auerbach's work stimulated the search for chemical mutagens-both in Drosophila and in newly developed microbial (bacteria, fungi, and bacterial viruses) assays. Horowitz et al (1946) extended Auerbach's finding of the mutagenicity of mustard gas by showing that it was also mutagenic in Neurospora, and Tatum (1947) found a related compound, the nitrogen mustard β,β-dichlorodiethylmethylamine, was mutagenic in Escherichia coli. Demerec et al (1951) reported that 19 out of 31 chemicals tested were mutagenic in E. coli, including hydrogen peroxide, copper sulfate, acetic acid, and formaldehyde.…”

Section: Pollution Politics and Persuasion: Can The Environment Dammentioning

confidence: 99%

The mutagenesis moonshot: The propitious beginnings of the environmental mutagenesis and genomics society

DeMarini

2019

Environ and Mol Mutagen

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A mutagenesis moonshot addressing the influence of the environment on our genetic wellbeing was launched just 2 months before astronauts landed on the moon. Its impetus included the discovery that Xrays (Muller HJ. [1927]: Science 64:84-87) and chemicals (Auerbach and Robson. [1946]: Nature 157:302) were germ-cell mutagens, the introduction of a growing number of untested chemicals into the environment after World War II, and an increasing awareness of the role of environmental pollution on human health. Due to mounting concern from influential scientists that germ-cell mutagens might be ubiquitous in the environment, Alexander Hollaender and colleagues founded in 1969 the Environmental Mutagen Society (EMS), now the Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society (EMGS); Frits Sobels founded the European EMS in 1970. As Fred de Serres noted, such societies were necessary because protecting populations from environmental mutagens could not be addressed by existing scientific societies, and new multidisciplinary alliances were required to spearhead this movement. The nascent EMS gathered policy makers and scientists from government, industry, and academia who became advocates for laws requiring genetic toxicity testing of pesticides and drugs and helped implement those laws. They created an electronic database of the mutagenesis literature; established a peer-reviewed journal; promoted basic and applied research in DNA repair and mutagenesis; and established training programs that expanded the science worldwide. Despite these successes, one objective remains unfulfilled: identification of human germ-cell mutagens. After 50 years, the voyage continues, and a vibrant EMGS is needed to bring the mission to its intended target of protecting populations from genetic hazards.

show abstract

“…In particular, he obtained no increase in mutation rate with methylcholanthrene, although fluorescence tests showed it to have penetrated into the cells. Tatum (1947) treated Neurosporu with the water-soluble 20-methylcholanthrene endosuccinic acid and obtained six biochemical mutants out of 3075 treated cultures.…”

Section: Mutmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical Mutagenesis

Auerbach¹

1949

Biological Reviews

104

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Summary The general methodological requirements for work with chemical mutagens are the same as for general mutation work, with special emphasis on questions of concentration, penetration, possible indirect or delayed effect, differences in susceptibility between individuals, strains and species. In work with weak mutagens the fluctuations of spontaneous mutability should be reduced to a minimum and should be included in the estimate of error. The manner of application of a chemical substance depends on the type of substance tested and the type of organism and tissue to be treated. Various methods are discussed. Drosophila is still the most suitable object for a genetical analysis of mutagenic effects; for complete cytological analysis plants are preferable. Work on mice or other warm‐blooded animals has theoretical as well as practical importance, but offers difficulties to quantitative treatment. Micro‐organisms have great advantages for the detection of mutagens, especially those species in which genetical methods for the testing of suspected mutations can be applied. Results gained with one organism cannot be transposed to another without test, and quantitative comparison between data gained on different organisms or even different cell types of the same organism is not admissible. A number of experiments in which chemical and physical mutagenic agencies were applied in combination have given interesting results which suggest that this method may prove a useful tool in the analysis of mutagenesis. A group of highly toxic vesicants, of which mustard gas is the best known representative, are powerful mutagens. In Drosophila, up to about 24% sex‐linked lethals have been produced with mustard gas, as well as small and large rearrangements. The mustards have proved efficient mutagens also in barley, fungi and bacteria. Two other potent vesicants, lewisite and chloropicrin, gave negative results in mutation tests. So did osmic acid and picric acid, which resemble mustard gas in being fixatives. A lachrymator, mustard oil or allyl wothiocyanate, is a definite, though weak mutagen. Two other lachrymators, chloracetone and dichloracetone, probably are slightly mutagenic. Analysis of the effects of mustard gas and nitrogen mustard has so far produced the following results: in Drosophila, lethals are scattered along the XT‐chromosome in a similar way as X‐ray lethals. Lethals on the second chromosome are 4–5 times as frequent as sex‐linked ones. The frequency of recessive lethals is highest in sperm which becomes available for fertilization about 6 days after treatment. Production of mutations in females is difficult. Doses which increased mutation rate in treated ova did not induce mutations in untreated sperm which, through fertilization, had been introduced into these ova. About 20% of the sex‐linked lethals from treatment of males are caused by small deficiencies. Large rearrangements are less frequent after mustard treatment than after a dose of X‐rays which produces the same frequency of sex‐linked lethals. The sh...

show abstract

Chemically Induced Mutations and Their Bearing on Carcinogenesis

Cited by 25 publications

References 48 publications

Lysogeny1

Lysogeny1

The mutagenesis moonshot: The propitious beginnings of the environmental mutagenesis and genomics society

Chemical Mutagenesis

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About