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In biology, a mutagen (Latin, literally origin of change) is an agent that changes the genetic information (usually DNA) of an organism and thus increases the number of mutations above the natural background level.
Mutagens are usually chemical compounds or ionizing radiation.
The Ames test is one method to determine how mutagenic an agent is.
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Examples
Gamma and Alpha Radiation, ionising radiations
Transposons, autonomous dna fragment relocation/multiplication
Base analogues, substitutes
Bromine and some of its compounds,
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Mutagens in fiction
Exposure to a mutagen is the means by which the anthropomorphic animals in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, for example, gained their forms. There are many less comic and more extreme versions in fiction, such as the mutated monsters on The X-files, some of which may actually be plausible according to some biologists. On that show, the writers' favorite premise was that all humans had left-over strands of alien DNA in them, which sometimes became active.
In the 80's and early 90's radiation was the mutagen of choice for fictional works.
The Inhumans of Marvel Comics utilize a mutagen called the "Terrigen Mist".
The most talked-about mutation nowadays is the very real product of manipulating human genetic material. The intent of this research is usually to cure disease.
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See also
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