Ethidium bromide as mutagen

Ethidium bromide is a potent nucleic acid intercalating agent, widely used in molecular biology for the purpose of staining DNA in electrophoresis experiments. When bound to DNA, it fluoresces under ultraviolet light, making it useful for visualizing DNA bands in agarose gels after electrophoresis. This property allows researchers to estimate the amount of DNA and check the purity and integrity of DNA samples. However, ethidium bromide is also known to be mutagenic and potentially carcinogenic, which means it can cause mutations in DNA that may lead to cancer. Because of its hazardous nature, its handling requires strict safety measures, including wearing gloves and protective eyewear, and disposing of it as hazardous waste. Alternatives to ethidium bromide, such as SYBR Safe, have been developed to provide safer options for DNA staining with similar or improved sensitivity and without the associated health risks. Problem: Intercalation of ethidium bromide into DNA results in: A) Displacement of RNA polymerase B) Deformation of the DNA molecule C) Missense mutations D) Constitutive expression of oncogenes