Table of ContentsIntroductionDefinition and ExplanationMutagenChemical MutagenBasic AnaloguesAlkylatorsPhysical MutagensCarcinogenConclusionIntroductionNowadays, various chemicals are exposed to humans either naturally or synthetically. It can be present in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, pesticides and even foods. Few chemicals found in a typical everyday product can be carcinogenic chemicals that can be dangerous to humans over long periods of exposure. Cancer is characterized by the uncontrollable proliferation of cells and the spread of abnormal cells throughout the human body system. It can also lead to death without proper treatment. Certain chemicals can cause mutations and disrupt DNA replication in humans by emitting or stopping certain signals in humans. These types of chemicals are known to be toxic compounds. There are several types of toxic compounds that are teratogenic, mutagenic and carcinogenic. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Definition and Explanation Mutagen Mutagen is a physical or chemical agent that can cause permanent mutations in DNA and can also induce cancer cells. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (2017), mutagens are also generally considered genotoxic because they can change the structure, information or segregation of DNA. Mutagen can be divided into chemical and physical mutagen. Chemical mutagenChemical mutagen can be defined as compounds that increase the rate of mutation. It works by interacting with DNA and causing changes in the DNA sequence. This happens through the process of removing, adding, or replacing DNA bases. If there is a mutation in the DNA sequence, protein synthesis will either be prevented or it will produce an altered protein. As a result, it will cause diseases and give different signals to organs and cells. An example of chemical mutagens are alkylating agents and azides. Base Analogues The base analogue mutagen is a chemical base capable of disrupting the replication system. it mimics the normal bases of purines and pyrimidines. This will result in incorrect insertion of nucleotides during replication. As a result, this will change the base pairing and structure of the DNA. An example of a mutagenic base analogue is 5-bromouracil because it can associate with adenine or guanine. This shows that 5-bromouracil can mimic thymine and be added to DNA through association with adenine or guanine. It is added to DNA due to tautomerization. For this reason, misbase pairing will eventually lead to mutation. Apart from this, mutagenic base analogues can also prevent DNA synthesis by inhibiting certain enzyme productions. AlkylatorsAlkylators are chemicals that can change the structure and pairing properties of DNA. It can change the structure by adding an alkyl group into the basic structure of DNA. Examples of alkylating agents are ethylmethanesulfonate (EMS) and nitrosoguanidine (NG). According to Griffiths, Miller, Suzuki, Lewontin, and Gelbart (2000), ethylmethanesulfonate will add oxygen to the 6-position of guanine, resulting in O-6-alkylguanine. As a result, it will mispair with thymine and produce different base pairings during replication, while inducing mutation. In addition to this, alkylating agentswould also modify the bases of dNTPs. This can disrupt DNA synthesis because it is the precursor to the process. Physical mutagens There are two types of physical mutagens: ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation is radiation with sufficient energy needed to remove bound electrons from an atom. This process will result in the formation of excited molecules that can damage DNA as well as cellular components when exposed to humans. Additionally, ionizing radiation is capable of penetrating cells and causing mutations in human cells. Examples of ionizing radiation are x-rays, γ-rays and α-particles. Lerner and Lerner (2003) point out that X-rays and γ-rays have higher penetration than other radiations. As a result, it will cause the energy to be distributed evenly, thereby causing more serious damage. Meanwhile, UV radiation is an example of non-ionizing radiation. UV radiation can also affect DNA bases by producing lethal lesions in DNA that are pyrimidine dimmers. This dimer will block the process of transcription and DNA replication. Meanwhile, teratogens are substances that can cause birth defects by harming or attacking the fetus during pregnancy. Teratogens may be closely related to embryotoxins which are toxic to the developing fetus. The teratogenicity of an agent depends on the ability of the compounds to penetrate placentas. In addition to this, it can also cause birth defects in infants during fetal development. The severity of the abnormalities depends on the duration of exposure, the quantity of substance, the concentration of the substance as well as the embryonic stage of the fetus. The most famous case in history of teratogenic compounds would be the use of thalidomide as a medication for nausea and morning sickness. Over the years, an increasing number of newborns had limb malformations called phocomelia. After extensive research, it was concluded that thalidomide is the main cause of phocomelia as it is a teratogen. Phocomelia is the shortening of the limbs by the reduced length of the proximal elements and leaving only the distal elements. Thalidomide is a synthetic derivative of glutamic acid and the parent drug of thalidomide is considered a teratogenic compound in humans. Additionally, the metabolic state occurs in pregnant women, also considered a second category of teratogens. This is because abnormalities that occur in the chemical process of the pregnant woman will significantly affect the development of the fetus. According to Tantibanchachai (2014), diabetes can cause neural tube, brain, and spinal cord defects due to excess blood sugar in a pregnant woman's system. This shows that teratogens can also be illnesses in a pregnant woman as well as foreign compounds that people are ingested or exposed to. It is important that pregnant women avoid contact with teratogenic substances. The first trimester of a woman's pregnancy is vital for the development of the fetus. The mother must therefore be very careful about what she eats as well as the chemicals she is exposed to. Teratogens include ethanol, mercury compounds, carbon disulfide and toluene. In addition to this, there are also common products that contain teratogenic compounds, such as alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. In addition to this, pregnant women should.