Mutagen assay with Arabidopsis. A report of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Gene-Tox Program.

The small crucifer Arabidopsis is very economical for short-term yet complete assay for chemical mutagens. Thousands of gene loci can be simultaneously monitored for alterations within one culture by screening for segregation among the embryos (M2) developing on the M1 plants. This species is quite sensitive to a wide range of compounds and can activate promutagens to mutagens. There is a very high correlation between mutagenic responses of Arabidopsis and carcinogenicity in animals.