To develop a molecular screen (array) for genes controlling reproduction, development and sexual differentiation
in different vertebrate and invertebrate taxa and to quantify the effects of AACs on the expression of the target sequences.
It can be expected that almost all pollutants that adversely affect humans and wildlife will do so by interfering with gene
expression. The current knowledge about this effect level of environmental chemicals is extremely limited. Although
investigations into the responses of individual genes to EDCs have started, there is a need for a more comprehensive and
comparative approach. This can be shown by the fact that a number of hormone-mimicking chemicals are known to have
multiple biological effects at various levels of biological integration and therefore, they will have multiple pathways of
action and thus will affect expression of many genes. An improved knowledge on the effects of AACs on gene expression
will help to elucidate biological responses that occur in organisms and opens further possibilities to compare the effects of
AACs between different biological taxa. Furthermore, information on gene expression could also provide additional endpoints
to be considered for the testing and monitoring of AACs. The Universities of Brunel, Exeter and Lund have extended array
facilities and the University of Exeter has already developed arrays for fish. These partners have very close links with biotechnology
companies that provides them with a leading edge in the development of arrays. The School of Biological Sciences at the
University of Exeter has recently established a bioinformatics facility and this will be a valuable resource for this objective.
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