Question:

Diethyl Sulphate is better known as __________ mutagen.

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Think about what chemical group DES adds onto DNA bases.
Updated On: Jul 4, 2026
  • alkylating
  • ionising
  • deaminating
  • dye
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Diethyl sulphate (DES) is a chemical mutagen that adds ethyl groups onto the bases of DNA, especially guanine.
Step 2: Adding alkyl groups like this to DNA bases is called alkylation, and it causes mispairing during replication, leading to point mutations.
Step 3: It is not a radiation-based (ionising) agent, does not work by deaminating bases like nitrous acid does, and is not a dye-based intercalating mutagen like acridine orange.
Step 4: So diethyl sulphate is correctly classed as an alkylating mutagen.
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