Which of the following is a chemical mutagen?
Ethyl methane sulphonate and X-rays
Sodium azide and UV rays
Ethyl methane sulfonate and Sodium azide
X-rays, gamma rays and UV rays
Both ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) and sodium azide are chemical mutagens commonly used in mutation breeding programs.
Ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) is an alkylating agent that induces point mutations in DNA by alkylating nucleotide bases. It can cause chemical modifications, such as base substitutions, insertions, and deletions, leading to genetic variation. EMS is often used in plant breeding programs to generate a diverse population of mutants, which can be screened for desired traits.
Sodium azide is another chemical mutagen that acts as a powerful mutagen by causing DNA damage. It specifically targets the DNA replication process and inhibits DNA polymerase enzymes, leading to the introduction of mutations during replication. Sodium azide is commonly used in both plant and microbial mutagenesis studies to induce genetic variability.
Both EMS and sodium azide are considered potent mutagens and should be handled with appropriate safety precautions due to their toxic nature. Their use in mutation breeding programs allows researchers to create genetic diversity, facilitating the identification of novel traits and the development of improved crop varieties. Hence, the correct answer is option 3.