In toxicology, pharmacogenetics is crucial for understanding why certain populations are more susceptible to the toxic effects of drugs. Genetic polymorphisms in enzymes responsible for drug biotransformation can lead to variations in drug metabolism rates, resulting in either the accumulation of toxic metabolites or insufficient drug activation. For example, variations in the cytochrome P450 family of enzymes can significantly affect the pharmacokinetics of many drugs, influencing the risk of toxicity.
