What is the primary purpose of the Ames test in microbiology?

• A. To assess the mutagenic potential of chemical compounds
• B. To identify bacterial species based on metabolic characteristics
• C. To determine the antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria
• D. To measure the rate of bacterial growth in culture

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the Ames test is a biological assay used in microbiology and genetics to evaluate whether a chemical compound can cause mutations in the DNA of an organism.
2. Recognize that the test uses specific strains of bacteria (commonly Salmonella typhimurium) that carry mutations making them unable to synthesize an essential amino acid, such as histidine.
3. Know that the bacteria are exposed to the chemical compound in question, and if the compound causes mutations that reverse the original mutation (a back mutation), the bacteria regain the ability to grow on media lacking that amino acid.
4. Interpret the results by counting the number of colonies that grow on the selective media; an increased number of colonies indicates that the compound has mutagenic potential.
5. Conclude that the primary purpose of the Ames test is to assess the mutagenic potential of chemical compounds, which can be an indicator of carcinogenic risk.