Mutagenicity

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Mutagenicity: a property of a chemical to cause genetic damage (damage of DNA). If the error is caused to a critical gene (such as in a so-called proto-oncogen or "cancer gene", or in an anticancer gene), the result may be carcinogenicity. Therefore mutagenicity tests are done as cheap preliminary tests to assess the possibility of cancer risk of a chemical. PCBs and PCDD/Fs are not mutagenic, and thus they are not likely to initiate a cancer, but they may promote the development of cancer initiated by other factors.