A poor custodian is working in a seedy factory when he is pushed into a vat of ethidium beomide during an epic fight between a superhero and a villain.
1. What mutations are likely to occur from this exposure?
2. What repair mechanisms would be used to fix them?
3. What might the long term effect be?
http://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2016/04/18/the-myth-of-ethidium-bromide
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1. Ethidium bromide is a potent mutagen that can cause various mutations in DNA. Some possible mutations that could occur from exposure to ethidium bromide include nucleotide substitutions (where one base is replaced by another), deletions (where a portion of DNA is lost), insertions (where extra bases are added), or frame-shift mutations (where the reading frame of the DNA sequence is disrupted). It is also possible that the exposure could lead to chromosomal abnormalities or even DNA cross-linking.
2. Organisms have evolved repair mechanisms to fix DNA damage caused by mutagens like ethidium bromide. The two main repair mechanisms are called base excision repair (BER) and nucleotide excision repair (NER). In BER, damaged bases are removed and replaced with correct ones. In NER, segments of DNA that are damaged by mutagens are recognized and removed, and then the gap is filled with new DNA synthesized using the undamaged DNA strand as a template.
3. The long-term effects of exposure to ethidium bromide depend on several factors such as the dose and duration of exposure, as well as individual variations. Ethidium bromide is generally considered a potential human carcinogen, meaning it has the potential to cause cancer. Prolonged or repeated exposure to mutagens like ethidium bromide can increase the likelihood of accumulating DNA mutations, which can lead to the development of cancerous cells. Additionally, if the mutations occur in critical genes, they could potentially cause other genetic disorders or abnormalities. It is important for the custodian to seek immediate medical attention after exposure and follow up with regular health screenings to monitor for any potential long-term effects.