Ames Test
The Spot-Overlay Ames Test was used in the lab to find the mutagenesis of Diet Coke and ThermaFlu. Along with these substances three mutant strains of salmonella were also tested. TA 1535, TA 1537, TA 1538 all lacked the ability to grow the amino acid histidine unless reverted back by the potential mutagens. After the first week of testing, results showed that both of the potential mutagens, Diet Coke and ThermaFlu were in fact mutagenic. This was established if colonial growth was at least twice as much as that of the negative control. For the continuation of the experiment, Diet Coke and the TA 1535 strain of S. thyphimurium were chosen to continue experimentation for the second week. Testing commenced once both substances had been mixed into six new DMA plates. The purpose of this experiment was to see if different amounts of Diet Coke would increase colony growth. Results for this week showed that at 100ul of Diet Coke, colony growth was at its peak, but as the concentration of Diet Coke kept increasing, colony growth stopped. In conclusion, the potential mutagens tested in the lab proved to be mutagenic, and as the concentration of the mutagen was increased, colony growth would follow until it leveled off.
INTRODUCTION
The use of the Ames test is based on the assumption that any substance that is mutagenic may also turn out to be a carcinogen, which causes cancer. “Salmonella / microsome test is the most popular of the bacterial test system. It detects mutagenic substances via their ability to revert histidine auxotrophs of S. typhimurium to wild-type.” (Ames et al., 1973 ; Maron and Ames, 1983; Hofnung and Qullardet, 1986) The trials that will be held in this lab will be tested under the Spot-Overlay Ames Test. It is a widely used technique for screening potential carcinogens by testing for mutagenesis of bacteria. It relies on the observation that the most common cause of cancer is somatic mutations brought about by DNA damage. It was first developed by
INTRODUCTION
The use of the Ames test is based on the assumption that any substance that is mutagenic may also turn out to be a carcinogen, which causes cancer. “Salmonella / microsome test is the most popular of the bacterial test system. It detects mutagenic substances via their ability to revert histidine auxotrophs of S. typhimurium to wild-type.” (Ames et al., 1973 ; Maron and Ames, 1983; Hofnung and Qullardet, 1986) The trials that will be held in this lab will be tested under the Spot-Overlay Ames Test. It is a widely used technique for screening potential carcinogens by testing for mutagenesis of bacteria. It relies on the observation that the most common cause of cancer is somatic mutations brought about by DNA damage. It was first developed by