This review discusses rapidly evolving sequencing tools and technologies, such as error-corrected sequencing and single cell analysis, which the authors anticipate will fundamentally reshape the field.
The review also considers a variety of emerging applications for these new technologies, including the detection of DNA adducts, inference of mutational processes based on genomic site and local sequence contexts, and evaluation of genome engineering fidelity, as well as other cutting-edge challenges for the next 50 years of environmental and molecular mutagenesis research. Mutations have a profound effect on human health, particularly through an increased risk of carcinogenesis and genetic disease. The strong correlation between mutagenesis and carcinogenesis has been a driving force behind genotoxicity research for more than 50 years. The stochastic and infrequent nature of mutagenesis makes it challenging to observe and to study. Indeed, decades have been spent developing increasingly sophisticated assays and methods to study these low-frequency genetic errors, in hopes of better predicting which chemicals may be carcinogens, understanding their mode of action, and informing guidelines to prevent undue human exposure. While effective, widely used genetic selection-based technologies have limitations that have hampered major advancements in the field of genotoxicity. Emerging new tools, in the form of enhanced next-generation sequencing platforms and methods, are changing this paradigm. 5 figures and 130 references (publisher abstract modified)