The importance of molecular dosimetry and analysis of mutations for estimation of genetic risk.

A method of estimating risk to germ cells is developed by using both molecular dosimetry and analysis of mutations for points of commonality in comparison among test systems. Studies on adduct formation can be related to dose in germ cells of test systems suitable for genetic analysis of mutations through successive generations. To analyze mutations properly, both classical genetic analysis to describe large deletions and chromosomal aberrations along with molecular analysis to describe mutations at the nucleotide level must be used. A complete description of mutations permits comparison with the data that are recently becoming available on spontaneous mutations in humans where the observed change in DNA can be related to a health effect.