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Introduction to Toxicology
EV 460/660 & BI 460/660
Fall 2014
Mutagenesis
Brief Review of DNA, RNA and Protein Synthesis
1.
DNA structure, purine (adenine, guanine) and pyrimidine (thymine, cytosine) bases,
base pairing
2.
Transcription – mRNA synthesis, codons
3,
Translation – protein synthesis, anti-codons and tRNA
Mutagenesis
1.
Terminology – mutation, mutagen, mutagenesis; germ cells vs. somatic cells
2.
Reasons for concern
-- germ cells – “genetic load”
-- somatic cells – carcinogenesis, teratogenesis, and other disorders
3.
Consequences of mutations
-- building block of evolutionary change
-- impacts on individual usually negative
4.
Two broad categories of mutations
-- point mutations
-- chromosomal aberrations
5.
Point mutations
-- substitutions, insertions, deletions, and frame shift mutations
-- base pair transformations – base pair transition vs. base pair transversion
-- silent mutations, mis-sense mutations, and nonsense mutations
6.
Chromosomal aberrations
-- clastogenesis
-- types of defects – gaps, breaks, deletions, translocations, duplications, inversions
-- numeric aberrations – aneuploidy vs. polyploidy