mutagène

Traductions

• anglais

  Date : 1990

  Définition

  Any agent that causes a modification of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in such a way as to affect the hereditary characteristics transmitted by genes or chromosomes.
  
  Any physical or chemical agent (...) significantly increasing mutational events and thus mutation rates above the spontaneous background level (...).

  Notes :

  Among these agents are ionizing radiation, heat, and some chemical substances (mustares, diethyl sulfate, and nitrous oxide). The mechanism involved in many cases is not clearly understood.
  
  Mutations resulting from treatment with such agents are called "induced mutations". The most widely applied mutagens are ionizing radiations, ultraviolet rays, base analogues and alkylating agents which can induce both gene mutations and chromosomal structural changes (...). Most mutagens exert several chemical effects on DNA, some of which induce mutagenic DNA alterations and others inactivating DNA alterations.

  Termes :

  1. mutagen
  2. mutagenic agent