DNA-Based Toxicity Assay for Pesticides in the Environment

Abstract

Increased use of domestic and agricultural pesticides has become a serious threat to the environment. Prolonged exposure to pesticides is capable of affecting the genetic integrity of humans and other animals. The aim of this study is to access the effect of dichlorvos (DDVP), a widely used pesticide in Nigeria, on the DNA of poultry birds (Gallus domestica). This study explored different special representation of treated groups using a three-patch matrix model incorporating dichlorvos contamination (0.01, 0.02 and 0.4%). Exposure was carried out for ten weeks after which the birds were sacrificed and the liver was extracted. Thermal denaturation of the DNA from the exposed birds resulted in a significant reduction (p< 0.01) in the DNA melting temperature from 87.2oC to 81.7oC while the GC/AT ratio was also significantly reduced (p