Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Thomas R Skopek

William G Thilly

Bruce W Penman

Henry Hoppe, Iv

Howard L Liber

An assay is disclosed for determining mutagenic damage caused by the administration of a known or suspected mutagen to diploid human lymphoblastoid cell lines. The gene locus employed for this assay is the gene for thymidine kinase, uridine kinase, or cytidine deaminase. Since human lymphoblastoid cells contain two genes for these enzymes, heterozygotes of human lymphoblastoid cells are used in this assay.

Assay for mutagenesis in heterozygous diploid human lymphoblasts

An assay is disclosed for determining mutagenic damage caused by the administration of a known or suspected mutagen to bacterial cells such as Salmonella typhimurium. After administration of or exposure to a mutagenic agent, the bacterial cells are plated in the presence of a purine analog and resistance to purine analogs is used as the genetic marker. This bioassay system can be used by genetic toxicologists to determine the potential genetic hazards from the use of a variety of suspected or known mutagens, including newly-developed chemicals.

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Somerville, MA, United States of America

Thomas R Skopek