Chemicals in the environment can cause mutations. A rather low level of mutation

Question

Chemicals in the environment can cause mutations. A rather low level of mutation is caused by chemical "A"; the mutation rate is 0.001 mutants generated per nmol chemical "A" in the environment. A higher level of mutation is caused by chemical "B"; the mutation rate is 8680 mutants per nmol chemical "B" in the environment. What quantity of chemical "A" in the environment would be required to equal the mutant-causing ability of 4.7 nmol chemical "B" in the environment? Assume a linear relationship between the concentration of either chemical in the environment and each chemical's mutation rate.

Explanation / Answer

Answer: 40.796 millimol

Formula applied here was

Mutation rate of chemical A x Chemical A concentration = Mutation rate of chemical B x Chemical B concentration

Mutation rate of chemical A = 0.001

Mutation rate of chemical B = 8680

Chemical B concentration = 4.7 nmol

All the above values were substituted in the formula to get

Chemical A concentration = (8680 x 4.7 nmol) ÷ 0.001 = 40796000 nmol = 40.796 millimol

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse C
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.