Environmental Mutagen Society
Encyclopedia
The Environmental Mutagen Society (EMS) is a scientific society "for the promotion of critical scientific knowledge and research into the causes and consequences of damage to the genome
and epigenome
in order to inform and support national and international efforts to ensure a healthy, sustainable environment for future generations."
The society promotes scientific research into the causes of DNA
damage and repair
and the relevance of these to disease. It also promotes the application and communication of this knowledge, especially through education, to help protect human health and the environment.
in 1969 by Drs. Alexander Hollaender
, Joshua Lederberg
, James Crow
, James Neel, William Russell
, Heinrich Malling, Frederick J. de Serres, Matthew Meselson
, and others.
The initial aim was to support the study of environmental mutagenesis
, originally in germ-cell mutagenesis, but the scope soon expanded to include all areas of mutagenesis, including mutation
al mechanisms, test methods, molecular epidemiology
, biomarkers, and risk assessment
.
, which developed the first bibliographic database
on environmental mutagenesis, facilitating research throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, particularly the development of tests for genetic toxicology, through the establishment of a register of substances tested for toxicity.
This, in turn, contributed significantly to the GENE-TOX program, established by Drs. Angela Auletta and Michael D. Waters at the US EPA and it now forms part of TOXNET.
During the early 1970s, the society played a significant part in the development of the US Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976
, enabling the United States Environmental Protection Agency
to include mutagenicity data in regulatory decisions.
The EMS "Committee 17", chaired by John W. Drake
, published an influential position paper; “Environmental Mutagenic Hazards”, in Science
in 1975. This described the research needs and regulatory responsibility for managing potential mutagenic compounds in the environment. It influenced research direction, regulatory procedures and mutagenicity testing within industry.
In 1979, the EMS began publishing its own journal, Environmental Mutagenesis, renamed Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis in 1987.
, Quebec
, October 15–19, 2011.
The EMS also makes a number of student and travel awards to promote and support the interests of the society.
.
Genome
In modern molecular biology and genetics, the genome is the entirety of an organism's hereditary information. It is encoded either in DNA or, for many types of virus, in RNA. The genome includes both the genes and the non-coding sequences of the DNA/RNA....
and epigenome
Epigenetics
In biology, and specifically genetics, epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence – hence the name epi- -genetics...
in order to inform and support national and international efforts to ensure a healthy, sustainable environment for future generations."
The society promotes scientific research into the causes of DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
damage and repair
DNA repair
DNA repair refers to a collection of processes by which a cell identifies and corrects damage to the DNA molecules that encode its genome. In human cells, both normal metabolic activities and environmental factors such as UV light and radiation can cause DNA damage, resulting in as many as 1...
and the relevance of these to disease. It also promotes the application and communication of this knowledge, especially through education, to help protect human health and the environment.
History
The society was formed in the USAUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1969 by Drs. Alexander Hollaender
Alexander Hollaender
Alexander Hollaender was one of the world's leading researchers in radiation biology and in genetic mutations. In 1983 he was given the Enrico Fermi Award by the United States Department of Energy for his contributions in founding the science of radiation biology, and for his leadership in...
, Joshua Lederberg
Joshua Lederberg
Joshua Lederberg ForMemRS was an American molecular biologist known for his work in microbial genetics, artificial intelligence, and the United States space program. He was just 33 years old when he won the 1958 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering that bacteria can mate and...
, James Crow
James F. Crow
James F. Crow is Professor Emeritus of Genetics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.Some of his most significant peer-reviewed contributions were coauthored with Motoo Kimura. His major contribution to the field, however, is arguably his teaching...
, James Neel, William Russell
William Russell
-Kingdom of England:* William Russell , Bishop of Sodor and Man from 1348 to 1374* Sir William Russell, 1st Baronet, of Chippenham , English MP for Windsor...
, Heinrich Malling, Frederick J. de Serres, Matthew Meselson
Matthew Meselson
Matthew Stanley Meselson is an American geneticist and molecular biologist whose research was important in showing how DNA replicates, recombines and is repaired in cells. In his mature years, he has been an active chemical and biological weapons activist and consultant...
, and others.
The initial aim was to support the study of environmental mutagenesis
Mutagenesis
Mutagenesis is a process by which the genetic information of an organism is changed in a stable manner, resulting in a mutation. It may occur spontaneously in nature, or as a result of exposure to mutagens. It can also be achieved experimentally using laboratory procedures...
, originally in germ-cell mutagenesis, but the scope soon expanded to include all areas of mutagenesis, including mutation
Mutation
In molecular biology and genetics, mutations are changes in a genomic sequence: the DNA sequence of a cell's genome or the DNA or RNA sequence of a virus. They can be defined as sudden and spontaneous changes in the cell. Mutations are caused by radiation, viruses, transposons and mutagenic...
al mechanisms, test methods, molecular epidemiology
Molecular epidemiology
Molecular epidemiology is a branch of medical science that focuses on the contribution of potential genetic and environmental risk factors, identified at the molecular level, to the etiology, distribution and prevention of disease within families and across populations. This field has emerged from...
, biomarkers, and risk assessment
Risk assessment
Risk assessment is a step in a risk management procedure. Risk assessment is the determination of quantitative or qualitative value of risk related to a concrete situation and a recognized threat...
.
Activities and achievements
In 1969 the EMS established the Environmental Mutagen Information Center (EMIC) at the Oak Ridge National LaboratoryOak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory is a multiprogram science and technology national laboratory managed for the United States Department of Energy by UT-Battelle. ORNL is the DOE's largest science and energy laboratory. ORNL is located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, near Knoxville...
, which developed the first bibliographic database
Bibliographic database
A bibliographic database is a database of bibliographic records, an organized digital collection of references to published literature, including journal and newspaper articles, conference proceedings, reports, government and legal publications, patents, books, etc...
on environmental mutagenesis, facilitating research throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, particularly the development of tests for genetic toxicology, through the establishment of a register of substances tested for toxicity.
This, in turn, contributed significantly to the GENE-TOX program, established by Drs. Angela Auletta and Michael D. Waters at the US EPA and it now forms part of TOXNET.
During the early 1970s, the society played a significant part in the development of the US Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976
Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976
The Toxic Substances Control Act is a United States law, passed by the United States Congress in 1976, that regulates the introduction of new or already existing chemicals. It grandfathered most existing chemicals, in contrast to the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals ...
, enabling the United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
to include mutagenicity data in regulatory decisions.
The EMS "Committee 17", chaired by John W. Drake
John W. Drake
-References:...
, published an influential position paper; “Environmental Mutagenic Hazards”, in Science
Science (journal)
Science is the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is one of the world's top scientific journals....
in 1975. This described the research needs and regulatory responsibility for managing potential mutagenic compounds in the environment. It influenced research direction, regulatory procedures and mutagenicity testing within industry.
Publications
In 1970 the EMS established the book series "Chemical Mutagens: Principles and Methods for Their Detection" and the first volume was published in the following year. This has included a number of influential papers, from the first by Dr. Bruce N. Ames on the Salmonella (Ames) mutagenicity assay.In 1979, the EMS began publishing its own journal, Environmental Mutagenesis, renamed Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis in 1987.
Meetings
The society has met annually since its formation. The next annual meeting will be the 42nd and will be held in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, October 15–19, 2011.
Awards and honors
The EMS makes three major awards. Every year it awards the EMS Award in recognition of "outstanding research contributions in the area of environmental mutagenesis" and the Alexander Hollaender Award in recognition of "outstanding contributions in the application of the principles and techniques of environmental mutagenesis to the protection of human health". From time to time it also awards the EMS Service Award in recognition of "long-standing dedication and service to the Society".The EMS also makes a number of student and travel awards to promote and support the interests of the society.
Collaboration and partnership
The EMS is a member organisation of the International Association of Environmental Mutagen Societies (IAEMS) and the Federation of American Societies for Experimental BiologyFederation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, abbreviated FASEB, is a non-profit organization that is the principal umbrella organization of U.S. societies in the field of biological and medical research. FASEB organizes academic conferences and publishes scientific literature...
.