What is the difference between teratogen and mutagen

It appears that metabolic activation may be needed before most carcinogens, e. Some compounds act as promoters that speed the development of tumors, and other substances, e. A mutagen is an agent that causes an increase in the rate of mutation of cells in the body. Mutagens induce DNA damage that either kills cells or when mis-repaired, produces abnormal sequences that will be passed on to daughter cells.

These actions, in turn, induce birth defects. Mutagens can be physical agents such as radiation or chemical agents such as base analogs, intercalating agents, reactive oxygen or nitrogen species or biological agents such as viruses. Common chemical mutagens include formaldehyde, nicotine, ethidium bromide, nitric oxide and dioxane.

Mutagens have specific mechanisms of action where they cause damage to the DNA sequence. The outcomes of mutagens may be both beneficial and harmful. Evolution is a major outcome of the action of mutagens, showing the positive effects of mutagen activity. However, disease conditions such as cancers and chromosomal abnormalities show how the action of mutagens can cause harmful effects.

In the case, if the mutagen affects a gamete cell, the mutation may also pass on to the next generation. At present, biotechnologists use these mutations in strain improvement in the field of medicine and industry. By exposure to specific mutagens, they aim to obtain better strain varieties of microorganisms that possess improved characteristics.

A teratogen is an agent or a substance that causes harm to the developing embryo or the fetus. This can take place through mutations. Teratogenic agents affect the embryo during the stage of pregnancy.

Here, the mother will not show any levels of toxicity or any adverse effect. However, the resulting newborn will possess birth defects. Teratogens can lead to extreme health defects in newborns, including development malfunctions in limbs and other organs or aberrations leading into various syndromes. Common chemical teratogens include ethanol, compounds containing mercury and lead, phenol, toluene-containing compounds and xylene.

Physical teratogenic agents such as radiation and biological teratogenic agents such as viruses can also cause critical birth defects in newborns during pregnancy. Biological agents that are teratogens must have the ability to cross the placental barrier in order to show their teratogenic properties.

Furthermore, a common group of teratogens include anti-cancer drugs. Therefore, there is a constant ethical debate on consuming anti-cancer drugs during the pregnancy period by the mother. Mutagens and teratogens are two types of agents that lead to alterations in individuals.

However, mutagen effects can take place at any time of life, as opposed to teratogen effects that only take place during the time of pregnancy. Moreover, the teratogen effect only targets the fetus or the embryo. So, this is the key difference between mutagen and teratogen.