What Are the Key Methods Used in Toxicity Prediction?
Several methods are employed to predict the toxicity of chemicals:
In Silico Models: These are computer-based models that use algorithms and databases to predict the toxicity of chemicals based on their molecular structure. Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) Models: QSAR models correlate chemical structures with biological activity to predict toxicity. High-Throughput Screening (HTS): HTS techniques rapidly test thousands of compounds for toxic effects using automated systems. In Vitro Assays: Laboratory-based tests using cell cultures to assess the toxicological properties of chemicals. Omics Technologies: These include genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to study the changes induced by chemicals at the molecular level.
