Mutagenes that affect human life. Mutagen is ...
Probably everyone is familiar with such a word asmutagen. It is a substance that can have a different nature and differ in the intensity of the effect. They can also damage the environment and humans. But their properties are often used for good in various spheres of life.
What is a mutagen
Everyone has his own idea of how,what is this substance. But in reality a mutagen is a factor that causes a persistent modification in the structure of the body. These changes are usually inherited by subsequent generations.
Mutagens are some acids,all kinds of compounds, drugs and even certain types of radiation. They can also be some kind of virus. Mutagen is a universal definition of factors that can cause mutation in any organism, from bacteria to plants and humans. The intensity of the changes depends on the dosage.
Types of mutagens
There are three types of mutagens known today: physical, chemical and biological. The first category includes all the ionizing radiation. These are X-rays and gamma rays, neutrons, protons, ultraviolet. It is interesting that, to some extent, the stable high or low temperature also influences the changes in the structure of the organism, although these modifications are less intense.
Another category is chemical mutagens. These include foreign DNA, alkylating compounds (dimethylsulfate, mustard, etc.), nitrous acid, pesticides, acridine dyes, formaldehyde, some alkaloids and organic peroxides. This includes many other drugs, as well as substances whose nature has not yet been investigated. Biological mutagens can be viruses, some plants and genetically modified substances.
Mutagens and humans: risk factors
Scientists often use mutagens for the benefit ofsociety, for example, they are used by breeders. But their negative impact is much stronger. Acquiring many products, drugs, cleaners and household appliances, a person exposes himself to the effects of mutagens, causing damage to the body. Most often this happens unnoticed for the person himself and manifests itself only in the next generation. Unfortunately, already today contact with such substances causes new diseases, chronic allergic reactions and tumors. Manufacturers of many goods necessary for modern man often introduce into their composition this or that mutagen. It can be hair dyes, food, household chemicals, exhaust fumes, industrial waste and much more. All these substances fly in the air, settle on the soil and are absorbed by the plants entering the food. In addition, environment mutagens affect animals and insects, changing their habits, making them more aggressive and vulnerable to disease. It is worth noting that there have been no changes that would benefit the body.
Food and mutagens
Today in the food industry there ispermission to use certain products that contain components of genetically modified corn, soybean and oilseeds. They can be found in syrups, flour, oil, starch. These bases are used in large volumes for the production of many products, from cookies, baby food, sausages and to sauces. Perhaps we will not notice the genetic changes caused by such food on our own, but our grandchildren will obviously feel them.
Security measures
After we learned that our world is overcrowdedmutagens, it seems that we are simply powerless. But in reality this information helps to be more careful when choosing food.
