Question

After performing an Ames test on 2 unknown test chemicals, suggest a follow-up experiment that can uncover more detail. (can be a variation of the test or something new)

Answer 1

Ames test is done in orer to study whether the unknown chemical is a mutagen . In the test performed, two unknown chemicals as given in the question can be tested or identified as a mutagen or non-mutagen.

Let us first understand the procedure of Ames test with two unknown chemicals:

in cas AMES TEST e f CONTROL TEST SAMPLE I TEST SAMPLE J. he Rat liver extract & Salmonella strain with his Rat liver extract t Salmonella Strain (His- & mutagen possi I Rat liver extreet + Salmonella strain (His-) + possible nntagen I plated on medium with Minimal (no Histidine incubated for 48 hours at 37°c. may or no in growth control мач от way not show may not show growth growth. both can be mutagens either one can be mutagen

Now because we are not sure whether the two mutagens are actually mutagens or is the result a false positive or false negative one , we can do the following three confirmatory tests:

• MLA/HPRT- Gene mutation selection
• Micronucleus test - to see the changes in the structure and number of chromosomes by separating the nucleus from the growing cells
• Chromosomal aberration test - by separating the chromosomes