CHAPTER 15: Micronucleus Experiments with Reptiles
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Published:18 Jul 2019
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Special Collection: 2019 ebook collectionSeries: Issues in Toxicology
G. L. Poletta and P. A. Siroski, in The Micronucleus Assay in Toxicology, ed. S. Knasmüller and M. Fenech, The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2019, pp. 243-258.
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Reptiles remain the least studied group of vertebrates in genetic toxicology, even though they have very interesting characteristics. Our studies conducted on native crocodiles, lizards, and turtles have demonstrated the sensitivity of the micronucleus (MN) test as a good indicator for genotoxicity biomonitoring. Reptiles are relevant components of the ecosystems and represent important resources that contribute to the regional economy. This leads to the awareness and commitment of local people in the protection of the ecosystem that contains them. In contrast, environmental pressure brought about by an increase in pollution would significantly disrupt the diversity and variability of these resources. Our studies confirmed that the MN test is also a highly suitable tool for the detection of DNA damage caused by chemical and physical agents found in reptiles, under different conditions of exposure and in different life stages, as has been widely reported for other vertebrates.