BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS INCORPORATING STRESS-INDUCIBLE GENES AND REPORTER CONSTRUCTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL BIOMONITORING AND TOXICOLOGY

摘要

A method and kit for detecting toxins and pollutants is disclosed. The kit includes a transgenic organism having a stress-inducible control region linked to a gene encoding a detectable protein wherein said control region regulates the expression of said detectable protein; exposing said organism to said sample; and determining the amount of detectable protein produces. Exposure of this organism to a toxin or pollutant induces the production of the detectable protein which can be easily measured. This invention provides a rapid and reliable system for testing samples for the presence of toxins or pollutants.