Genotoxicity

Genotoxicity is the property of a chemical or physical agent that has the potential to damage the genetic information within a cell. It can lead to mutations, chromosomal damage, and cell death. Genotoxicity is of great importance in toxicology, as it is thought to be one of the underlying causes of some forms of cancer and other diseases. It may also be used in environmental risk assessment of chemical pollutants, to evaluate the safety of industrial processes, or for drug discovery and development. The genotoxicity of a substance can be measured using various biochemical or biological assays.