An introduction about Genotoxicology Methods as Tools for Monitoring Aquatic Ecosystem: Present status and Future perspectives

Abstract

Pesticide residues with genotoxic potential reach the aquatic environment and constitute a major issue that\rgive rise to concerns at local, regional, national and global scales. Fish serves as an excellent genetic model for the\rgenetic hazard assessment as they are very sensitive to changes in their environment. As there is a close consortium\rof DNA damage, mutation and induction of various types of genetic disorders, genotoxicity tests like chromosomal\raberration test, micronuclei and comet assay are gaining credence and since past few decades many tests have\rbeen developed for evaluating genetic alterations in aquatic organisms. These tests rely on the premise that any\rchange to DNA may have enduring and ardent consequences. Thus, the first aim of the genotoxicology is to describe\rthe outcome produced by toxic substances in various test species, but only from the genetic point of view and to draw\rconclusions that can be extrapolated to man. This review summarizes the genotoxicity tests developed till date and\rthe role of piscine model in genotoxicology. The text also delves the latest knowledge and thinking on these cardinal\rapproaches for the assessment of aquatic environmental health, management and conservation, besides providing\ruseful repository for the researchers especially dealing with aquatic genotoxicity tests. The perspectives for further\rresearch on the use of genotoxicology tests were also highlighted.