The screening, diagnosis and evaluation of genotoxic agents with batteries of bacterial tests.

Bacterial tests can be used for several related purposes: the screening for genotoxic agents, genetic analysis of the mode of action of genotoxins and attempts to predict their effects in mammals. We examine various aspects of the assembly of tests into batteries with emphasis on the genetic properties of target bacterial cells. We discuss the problems of carcinogenicity prediction, the identification of particular types of DNA lesions, the study of mutagenic specificity and the elucidation of metabolic steps towards the ultimate genotoxin.