Three stages of the development of genetic toxicology in China are retrospectively reviewed in this article.In the initiating
stage from late 1970's to 1983 a series of assays for evaluation of
genotoxicity were set up and a large number of
environmental chemicals had been screened with these assays.Meanwhile,the training of the professional staff and the foundation of Chinese Environmental Mutagen Society were proceeded in this period.During the period of 1983~1993 the assays for evaluation of genotoxicity were standardized and normalized step by step,and finally,a battery of genotoxicity assays were listed in the items of safety evaluation guideline for research on new drugs,pesticides,foods,cosmetics and so on.Studies on mechanism of genotoxicity were carried out with effort.Furthermore,Genetic Toxicology Committee of Chinese Scoiety of Toxicology was founded.Since 1993,genetic toxicology has stepped onto a molecular level.Molecular test systems on mutations such as shuttle vector systems,transgenic animal mutation test systems,and many others which apply molecular bio\|assays to analyse mutations at molecular level have been developed in succession.Researches on molecular mechanism of gene mutations are also in process and remarkable achievements have been made in studies on no\|ntargeted mutations.Besides,the applications of genetic toxicology in environmental mutagens monitoring in site,human population health monitoring and epidemiologic investigations on correlation between genotoxicity and diseases (e.g.cancers)were also retrospectively reviewed.