Simple and Cost-Effective Reporter Assay for Evaluating Chemical-Induced Epigenetic Changes

Numerous widely used chemicals induce genetic and epigenetic alterations implicated in various diseases, including cancer. Safety assessment of potential carcinogens is necessary to minimize their hazardous impact. While genotoxicity assays are widely used to evaluate genetic changes, quantification of epigenetic changes requires advanced and expensive sequencing techniques. Researchers from Japan have developed a simple and cost-effective cell-based reporter assay that can quantify chemical-induced epigenetic effects, and enhance the safety evaluation of environmental chemicals.