Question

During the Ames test, his bacteria are exposed to a chemical. If the bacteria remains his+, then what can we say about

the chemical?
A) The chemical is certainly a cancer-causing chemical.
B) The chemical is not safe to consume because it is likely a mutagen.
C) The chemical is not safe to consume even though it is not likely a mutagen.
D) The chemical is safe to consume even though it is likely a mutagen.
E) The chemical is safe to consume and is not likely a mutagen.

Answer 1

The Ames test uses bacteria to determine if a chemical is mutagenic or not. If the bacteria remain his+, it means the chemical is likely a mutagen and not safe to consume.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Ames test is a widely employed method that uses bacteria to test whether a given chemical can cause mutations in the DNA of the test organism. If the bacteria remain his+ (meaning they regain the ability to synthesize histidine), it indicates that the chemical is mutagenic and may act as a carcinogen. Therefore, we can conclude that the correct answer is B) The chemical is not safe to consume because it is likely a mutagen.