Ames Test,”demonstrates that carcinogens (cause cancer) are mutagens (alter DNA)Ames introduced a mutation into a single gene that required Histodine Biosynthesis. This strain of bacteria called His-Auxotroph.Have to add histodine b/c cells can’t make it on its own. Wanted to see what it takes to get cells from His-auxotroph to His-prototroph. These cells have very specific type of genetic mutation, so added compound must be specific mutagen that will mutate DNA at high enough frequency that mutation you’ll get will be able to restore to the original mutationif strong mutagen, lots of coloniesif weak or poor mutagen, will not see anything(a lot of compounds, if first incubated with liver extract
would be metabolically activated)here we are measuring mutagens”