Desmutagens and bio‐antimutagens – their modes of action

There are two ways of preventing induced cellular mutagenesis. In the first, mutagens are inactivated by ‘desmutagens’ before they can attack the DNA. In the second, ‘bio‐antimutagens’ interfere with cellular fixation processes working on damage in DNA. Examples of modes of action are shown for these inhibitors of induced mutations and implications for reducing genetic damage in man are discussed.