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

Abstract

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.

Phage Display Technology as a Powerful Platform for Antibody Drug Discovery

“…In random mutagenesis, mutagenesis is induced by anticancer agents [ 59 ], radiation [ 59 ], or by gene recombination with chain shuffling [ 14 , 60 , 61 ]. Among these techniques, error-prone polymerase chain reaction (error-prone PCR) is often employed [ 62 ].…”

Heritable hazards of smoking: Applying the “clean sheet” framework to further science and policy

“…However, this focus shifted by the mid‐1970s to a concern for somatic cell mutagenesis and cancer due to the difficulty and expense of germ cell mutation assays and the development of the Salmonella (Ames) mutagenicity assay (Claxton et al . 2010; DeMarini 2020). Although no human germ cell mutagen has yet been declared by any national or international agency, data have accumulated that suggest that several environmental exposures, especially tobacco smoke, are likely human germ cell mutagens (DeMarini 2012; Beal et al .…”

“…However, this was not always the case. Concern that some drugs and chemicals being introduced into the environment might cause germ cell mutation was the primary motivating factor in the 1960s for the establishment of mutagenicity testing and formation of the Environmental Mutagen Society, now the Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society (EMGS) (DeMarini 2020). However, this focus shifted by the mid‐1970s to a concern for somatic cell mutagenesis and cancer due to the difficulty and expense of germ cell mutation assays and the development of the Salmonella (Ames) mutagenicity assay (Claxton et al .…”

Perfil de mutagenicidade induzido pela luz UVA e UVB em células de pacientes com >i<Xeroderma pigmentosum>/i< grupo C.

“…Since the discovery of UV irradiation as an environmental mutagen, numerous studies attempt to understand its effects by using different biological models (DeMarini et al 2020). Each one with a particular focus but all with the intuition of trying to put the pieces together and understand the consequences of exposure to UV irradiation in human health as a whole.…”

“…Experiments using UV light as a mutagen began in the 1930s, with works in Drosophila and maize. Years later, by using microorganisms as a model it was clearly demonstrated that the maximum absorption spectrum of nucleic acids match with the maximum harmful (mutagenic and killing), effects of UV radiation (DeMarini et al 2020). At present it is already clearly established the relation of UV light to the development of skin cancer, the most common type of cancer around the world (de Gruijl et al 1993, Armstrong & Kricker 2001, Matsumura & Ananthaswamy 2002.…”