Mutations

Mutations

An introduction to mutagens: the agents (physical, chemical or biological) that can alter the structure of DNA within our cells. Mutagens generally act either directly on the DNA themselves or produce chemicals that in turn act on the DNA causing substitutions, deletions, insertions, or rearrangement of important genetic code. This programme looks inside the human body to discover how the DNA in our cells can be affected by chemicals, radiation and other things we encounter in our everyday lives.

It also explores ways in which mutagens can result in the development of cancers in the human body.