**Author details**

*Cytogenetics - Classical and Molecular Strategies for Analysing Heredity Material*

**2. Contribution of environmental constituents in mutation**

the inherent form.

**3. Conclusion**

innovative research.

results in genetic deficiencies cause.

Throughout the world, skin melanoma is the 19th most widespread cancer. Usually, almost all types of skin cancers are related to environmental factors including contact with immense ultraviolet radiation or due to sun exposure. Environmental mutagens may be synthetic or natural agents in nature

[74, 113–116]. these mutagens produce genetic mutations or expand mutational activities during the life span [117, 118]. Most of the environmental mutagens possess genotoxic effects on the next generation via germ cells and continue in

Besides ultraviolet radiation, other radioactive, heavy metals, organic solvents

or chemicals, viruses, bacteria, etc. also perform a role to cause cell damage [119–122]. Even, consumption of cigarette smoke, dietary contaminants including mycotoxin, aflatoxin B1, fat consumption, and unorganized stress are themselves integral environmental factors that contribute to cytokeratin disruptions [123]. All these agents are come in contact with the human through directly via skin & lungs or by ingestion. From this channel, these circulate in the body (blood, lymph glands, muscles, bones, tissues, and organs) and initiate mutations. In mutagenesis, these all mutagens penetrate directly to cellular and nuclear membranes and damage DNA by cross-linking (chemically gluing) two bases together. Sometimes, Mutagenesis is also caused by aberrant DNA methylation (epigenetic change) at the genomic level and post-translational modifications at the protein level. Finally, this

Cytokeratins are essential protectors of epithelial structure found in the intracytoplasmic cytoskeleton of epithelial tissue. The occurrence of mutation in cytokeratin genes generates several genetic dermal disorders. In this genetic alteration, several environmental factors (ultraviolet, reactive oxygen species (ROS), deaminating agents, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), ethylnitrosourea, azide, dyes, and heavy metals) take place as mutagen factors. The present chapter conclusively stated different cytokeratins disorders caused by environmental mutagens, i.e., synthetic or natural mutagens. In the end, based on environmental mutagens contributions, it can be stated that the genetic and epigenetic effects, arise/enhance through environmental mutagens/carcinogens, are the subject of

**144**

Vishnu Sharma1 \*, Tarun Kr. Kumawat1 , Garima Sharma1 , Rashi Garg1 and Manish Biyani1,2

1 Department of Biotechnology, Biyani Girls College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

2 Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Japan

\*Address all correspondence to: vishnusharma666@yahoo.com

© 2021 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
