2006-09-27 16:56:49 · 6 answers · asked by ochie_0910 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
Any agent (physical or environmental) that can induce a genetic mutation or can increase the rate of mutation
2006-09-27 16:59:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In biology, a mutagen (Latin, literally origin of change) is an agent that changes the genetic information (usually DNA) of an organism and thus increases the number of mutations above the natural background level.
Mutagens are usually chemical compounds or ionizing radiation.
The Ames test is one method to determine how mutagenic an agent is.
2006-09-28 00:24:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
An agent, such as a chemical, ultraviolet light, or a radioactive element, that can induce or increase the frequency of mutation in an organism.
2006-09-28 12:55:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anything that can stimulate a mutation. Certain chemicals are known to be mutagens like benzene in cigarettes
2006-09-27 16:59:31 · answer #4 · answered by petlover 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Anything that can cause a change (or mutation) in the genetic material of a living cell."
-Glossary of Hazard Communications Terms web.mit.edu/environment/ehs/topic/HazCommTerms.html
2006-09-27 17:00:06 · answer #5 · answered by serialconfusion 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
any substance that changes another substance into something else
2006-09-27 16:59:46 · answer #6 · answered by shadowcockindustries 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋