Genotoxicity of Select Pesticides

Undergraduate #159
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: Pollution/Toxic Substances/Waste

Raveen Martin - Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University
Co-Author(s): Co-Authors: Raymond Wiggins, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, AL, Benicia Harrison Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, AL

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The components in many pesticides have been found to mutate cells; altering genes and the functions of the cell. RoundUpTM (pesticide) is widely used which may be one of the causative agents in the rise of cancer cases expressed in the world. The popularity of that specific brand of pesticide could possibly have affected a great number of humans. This research will prove that RoundUp contains toxic materials causing genetic abnormalities/mutations in cells. Under aseptic conditions we first rehydrated lyophilized bacteria with nutrient broth (using varied H2 O and dilution of test material). The mixture was then incubated at 37 degree celcius in the incubator overnight. We examined the bacteria grown for turbidity. The Muta-ChromoPlate reaction mixture was then poured into each of the sterile tubes. Bacteria from the culture was also added to the tubes based on a design incorporating positive and negative control in a 96-well micro-titration plate. The plate was covered with a lid and sealed with a plastic bag to prevent evaporation. The plates were then incubated and scored after 48 – 96 hours. The results displayed that test material at varying concentrations were turbid (+) with the exception of test material 3 which was purple (-). In conclusion, RoundUpTM is capable of mutating cells. In the future we will be testing more pesticides for genotoxicity.

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Funder Acknowledgement(s): Funder Acknowledgements: I thank the Assure Student Research Program. I also thank the NSF/HBCU-UP for funding.

Faculty Advisor: Florence Okafor, florence.okafor@aamu.edu

Role: I helped prepare the mixtures, lab set up, and performed the experiments.