Abstract: The invention is in the field of genomics and it provides an in vitro method for predicting whether a compound is genotoxic in vivo. It provides a method that employs the analysis of expression profiles of primary mouse hepatocytes as an in vitro system to discriminate false GTX compounds from true GTX carcinogens. It was found that differential expression of a number of genes could reliably predict whether a compound was a true genotoxic compound.

Abstract: The current invention pertains to a method for screening and discovery of compounds capable of inhibiting, preventing, delaying or reducing genome maintenance disorders and consequences thereof, in particular ageing related symptoms and disorders. The current invention provides a method for screening and discovery of compounds that are capable of inhibiting, preventing, delaying or reducing genome maintenance disorders and consequences thereof. The invention exploits animal models that comprise deficiencies in their genome maintenance systems, such as DNA repair systems, and display premature, enhanced, accelerated or segmental ageing phenotypes. These animal models can be advantageously applied to screen compounds and thereby develop schemes of intervention to treat, delay, inhibit, prevent or cure ageing related symptoms. The current invention thus provides a new and powerful tool to screen aid/or discover therapeutically active compounds to treat ageing related symptoms and diseases.