Genotoxic effects of cadmium chloride on polytene chromosomes of Sarcophaga ruficornis (fab.) (Sarcophagidae: Diptera)

Cadmium ranks close to lead and mercury in toxicological importance due to its increasing levels in the environment, as a result of industrial practices of past and present. Chromosomal responses to cadmium chloride shocks were studied in the pupal footpad polytene chromosomes of Sarcophaga ruficornis. Cadmium chloride induces a single puff on chromosome arm IIL at the region 12A by in vitro treatment. Heat shock and other chemical stresses is also induced similar puff in several sarcophagids. Thus a single prominent puff is a hallmark of stress response in sarcophagids, so they are proposed as a tool providing early warning of adverse long term effects of toxic agents on the genome