FERTILITY, REPRODUCTION, AND GENETIC-DISEASE - STUDIES ON THE MUTAGENIC EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL AGENTS ON MAMMALIAN GERM-CELLS

Because genetically based diseases have a major impact on human health , the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) has conducted a research and testing program for more than a decade to add ress chemical induction of heritable genetic damage in the germ cells of mammals. Although most genetic disease results from preexisting mut ations, a portion is due to the occurrence of new mutations. The suppo sition that exposure to mutagenic chemicals contributes to the occurre nce of new mutations in the human population is strongly supported by the results from animal models. Such studies clearly demonstrate the p otential of environmental chemicals to induce mutations in both somati c and reproductive cells of mammals. This NIEHS program has become a l eader in the identification of genetic hazards in the environment and in the acquisition of animal model data used by regulatory agencies in assessing genetic risks to human health.