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Mosaicism: The embryo as a target for induction of mutations leading to cancer and genetic disease
Author(s) -
Mohrenweiser Harvey,
Zingg Barbara
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
environmental and molecular mutagenesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1098-2280
pISSN - 0893-6692
DOI - 10.1002/em.2850250606
Subject(s) - biology , somatic cell , genetics , offspring , in utero , carcinogen , mutation , allele , germline , organism , germline mutation , embryo , germline mosaicism , cancer , genotype , mutagen , fetus , cancer research , gene , pregnancy
Mosaicism, the existence of “patches” of cells with a genetic constitution that differs from that of other cells of an organism, has been observed in both germinal and somatic tissues of several species, including humans. Mutational events occurring during early embryogenesis can give rise to an organism with a significant number of cells with the mutant genotype in one or more tissues. If this event occurs in a precursor of the germ cells, the mutation can be transferred to subsequent generations. In the F 1 generation, this event will usually be perceived as a de novo germinal mutation rather than a transmitted variant allele, unless significant effort is directed toward detecting the mosaicism. Similarly, mutations in oncogenes and tumor‐suppressor genes in proliferating somatic cells can generate populations of cells that are at increased risk of transforming into tumor cells. The number of potential preneoplastic cells is larger when the mutagenic event occurs in early development than if it occurs in the mature adult. Experimental data confirm that treatment of the developing embryo or fetus with carcinogenic and mutagenic agents increases the cancer incidence in these animals and the frequency of mutations in the offspring of the animals that were exposed in utero. The available data are conclusive that the developing organism is at risk from exposure to mutagenic and carcinogenic agents. However, the data are insufficient to estimate the level of risk associated with exposures in utero, relative to either the background (spontaneous) level of risk or risk associated with similar exposures to the adult organism. Given the dynamics of cell division, it can be expected that the potential risk from exposure of the developing embryo is increased relative to the risk from adult exposure if the sensitivity of the individual cells to damage in the adult and the embryo are equivalent. It seems apparent that the potential risks of cancer and heritable disease following in utero exposure are sufficient to warrant additional attention. It is important to obtain data for estimating the relative contribution of in utero exposure to mutagenic and carcinogenic agents to the total health burden and for the subsequent development of appropriate regulations. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.