6.4 The Ames Test

Question 1

What is the easiest way to test mutagens?

Answer 1

bacteria using the Ames test

Question 2

Who developed the Ames test and when?

Answer 2

Bruce Ames
1960s

Question 3

What is the Ames test used for?

Answer 3

early testing of pharmaceutical compounds to screen compounds for potential mutagenicity

Question 4

How does the Ames test test for mutagenicity?

Answer 4

his - bacteria are incubated with the test compound and the frequency of mutations that restore to his + directly correlates to the mutagenicity of the compound

Question 5

What does it mean that compounds are pre-metabolized before being tested?

Answer 5

compound is incubated with a mammalian liver extract that contains enzymes that mimic human liver metabolism

Question 6

Why do compounds need to be pre-metabolized before being tested?

Answer 6

chemicals are benign until they are metabolized to a carcinogenic chemical in the liver