Trends in the study of genetic susceptibility

Genotoxicology investigates the molecular basis of cellular responses to DNA damage. During more than three decades of genetic toxicology testing, a large number of tests with varying sensitivity and specificity have been developed.

These genotoxicity tests can predict:

the likelihood of a substance to be a (rodent) carcinogen,

the mechanism of carcinogenic activity of different substances,

if the results of genotoxicity studies only predict carcinogenicity or they are a distinct hazard endpoint (Nohynek, 2005).

The current genetic toxicity testing batteries represent:

Ames test which is a component of all genetic testing batteries.

A mammalian cell mutagenicity assay which should confirm or complete the Ames test.

Chromosomal aberrations tests which are based on a different endpoint than gene mutations.

Positive in vitro results need to be confirmed by in vivo tests; results from test batteries have higher predictive value than results of a single test (Nohynek, 2005).