Review article

Structural chromosome damages - bioindicators of exposure to mutagens

Đ. Horvat ; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska

Abstract

Many chemical and physical agents damage normal chromosomal structures in somatic and sex cells ·in man. In the paper are discussed the types of damage according to the phase of the imtermitotic cell cycle. Ionizing radiation damages the genetic mass of the cell in all phases of the intermitotic cycle. Chemical and biological mutagens very often transform the structure of human chromosomes in the course of DNA synthesis. Depending on whether the damage has occurred in the cell phase with a single or a double stranded DNA structural aberrations are classified as chromatid or chromosomal. The usual percentage of spontaneous aberrations. mainly breaks or gaps, is one to five per cent. They occur as a result of the in vitro conditions of cultivation, but to a smaller extent may also appear in viva. Chromosomal damages such as dicentric and ring chromosomes and exchanges are found only rarely or never in healthy nonexposed persons. Their presence is an indication of exposure to mutagens. The persons in whom significant structural chromosome aberrations have been detected should be removed - temporarily or permanently - from the range of the mutagenic agents.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

161658

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/161658

Publication date:

12.9.1979.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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