Dioxins, furans and other polychlorinated biphenyls (coplanar PCBs) are three structural and toxicologically related families of compounds classified as the most toxic synthetic chemical. In this study, we investigated possible genotoxic effects of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), man-made environmental contaminant, in Drosophila melanogaster by somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART). In this, we observe the chemical effects on wing phenotype of the transheterozygote flies carrying marker gene. Lethal doses of 2,3,7,8-TCDD, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, 1,2,3,7,8,9- HXCDD, and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-OCDD were determined. Doses of 1×10-7, 2.5×10-7, 5×10-7, and 10×10-7 μg/mL of PCDDs were used. In addition, the observed mutations were classified according to the size and the type of the mutations per wing. Results revealed no significant genotoxic effect of any of the dioxins tested. According to the mechanisms involved in the antigenotoxicity of PCDDs, it is suggested that the observed effects can be linked to the differences in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) amino acid sequences in the gene protein of D. melanogaster.

Keywords: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor, Polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxins, Somatic mutation and recombination test