Comparative mutagenic effects of laboratory dyes on Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Mutagenic dyes are risk for the health of workers, consumers and for the environment. Mutagenicity of chemical present on textiles could be seen as a major clue towards carcinogenic activities of these chemicals. This study was conducted to determine the comparative mutagenic effects of laboratory dyes on Drosophila melanogaster. Bioaccumulation of the laboratory dyes used, malachite green, safranin, crystal violet and methylene blue were allowed to induce mutations from the parental generations up to the second filial generations of D. melanogaster with constant exposure to the laboratory dyes used at 1% and 5% concentrations. Results of the study showed that constant exposure of the fruit flies at 1% and 5% concentrations of the laboratory dyes used increased the rate of mutations on the color of the eyes, body color and wing shapes of D. melanogaster. Chi-square statistic at 0.05 level of significance showed no significant difference on the incidence of mutation on the fruit flies phenotype. Thus, this showed that constant exposure to the laboratory dyes at varying concentrations could induce mutation.