Modified Ames test for mutagenicity of Pepsi-Cola in Escherichia coliI. IntroductionCertain substances have been avoided because of their potentially harmful effects on the body. In particular, a substance affected cells by modifying their genetic material. The potential of a substance to cause changes in genetic information was the mutagenicity of the substance. If it caused changes in the DNA sequence, it was considered mutagenic. Altering a DNA sequence was a concern because changing DNA can lead to cancer. Mutagens can act as carcinogens, commonly referred to as carcinogens (Biology 214 Laboratory Handout, 2008). As a result, much research has been conducted on the identification of mutagens. The focus was on substances that people come into regular contact with, often through food. Certain substances found largely in the typical human diet have been studied for their mutagenicity. One of these substances was Pepsi-Cola, a common beverage sold and consumed around the world. Pepsi-Cola was a concern because people consume it all over the world. Scientists who studied Pepsi-Cola focused on the caffeine in the soda. A 12-ounce Pepsi-Cola contains 38.4 mg of caffeine (Lamarine, 1994). Caffeine was also found in many other substances people regularly consumed, including coffee, chocolate, tea, Coca-Cola, and other beverages (Lamarine, 1994). Many researchers have conducted studies on the mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of caffeine. One of these people, Margaret Lieb, studied the mutagenic effect of caffeine on Escherichia coli treated with ultraviolet light. The results of his study revealed a greater number of E. coli mutants in the sample where...... middle of article ......ology 214 Laboratory Handout, 2008).III. ReferencesBiology 214 Laboratory document 2008. Ames tests: are chemicals, mutations and cancer linked? Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. 5 pages. Kuhlmann, W., Fromme, HG, Heege, EM, and W. Ostertag. 1968. The mutagenic action of caffeine in higher organisms. Cancer Research, 28: 2375-2389. Lamarine, RJ 1994. Some health and behavioral effects associated with caffeine use. Journal ofCommunity Health, 19(6): 449-466.Lieb, M. 1961. Enhancement of ultraviolet-induced mutation in bacteria by caffeine. Zeitshrift fürVererbungslehre, 92: 416-429. Stefani, ED, Boffeta, P., Deneo-Pellegrini, H., Correa, P., Ronco, AL, Brennan, P., Ferro, G., Acosta, G., and M. Mendilaharsu. 2007. Soft drinks and risk of bladder cancer in Uruguay. Cancer BMC, 7:57.