Which of the following is not likely to characterize the approach of toxicology?
a. Laboratory studies of the role of xenobiotics in carcinogenesis in mice
b. In vivo studies
c. Studies of disease occurrence in populations according to person variables
d. They all characterize the toxicologic approach.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is c. Studies of disease occurrence in populations according to person variables.
Explanation:
Toxicology focuses on understanding the harmful effects of chemicals (xenobiotics) on living organisms, including humans, animals, and the environment. The approach is more experimental and controlled, typically investigating how substances cause toxicity or adverse effects at different levels of exposure.
Here’s a breakdown of each option:
- a. Laboratory studies of the role of xenobiotics in carcinogenesis in mice: This is a typical toxicology study. Researchers use laboratory animals like mice to explore the potential carcinogenic effects of chemicals. These studies help determine how substances can lead to cancer and at what levels of exposure.
- b. In vivo studies: In vivo studies, which are performed within a living organism, are commonly used in toxicology. These studies allow scientists to observe the biological effects of toxins in real-time, which is crucial for assessing the safety and risks of substances.
- c. Studies of disease occurrence in populations according to person variables: This option is more aligned with epidemiology rather than toxicology. Epidemiology focuses on studying disease patterns in populations, looking at variables like age, sex, lifestyle, and environmental factors. While epidemiology may consider environmental toxins, it generally deals with broader population data rather than controlled lab studies of toxicity.
- d. They all characterize the toxicologic approach: This option is incorrect because option c does not align with the toxicology approach.
In summary, toxicology primarily deals with controlled experiments, such as animal studies and in vivo testing, to determine the harmful effects of substances, while studies of disease occurrence in populations focus more on epidemiological research and are not typically a hallmark of toxicology.