Final answer:
Increased levels of P450 enzymes in response to halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons exposure is an example of enzyme induction, which enhances detoxification in animals.
Step-by-step explanation:
When an animal is exposed to halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, its levels of P450 enzymes increase as an adaptive response to metabolize these toxic compounds. This phenomenon is an example of enzyme induction, which is a process where the presence of a compound increases the production of enzymes that metabolize that particular compound. It occurs to enhance the animal's ability to detoxify and eliminate harmful substances from the body.
Such induction is often seen with exposure to various pollutants, drugs, and environmental chemicals, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are known to pose risks such as cancer and endocrine disruption. The upregulation of P450 enzymes is an organism’s defense mechanism seeking to mitigate these risks by accelerating the detoxification process. This process differs from repression, as repression involves the decrease in synthesis of enzymes or other proteins in response to a stimulus.