Abstract: Biology-based processes for detecting toxic substances are provided. The processes comprise detecting mRNA that is expressed in the presence of toxic substances by a cell comprising a yeast gene as followed, or a gene that is homologous to the yeast genes and is derived from other species, wherein the mRNA corresponds to said yeast gene or said homologous gene thereof.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a method whereby with respect to a microorganism present in an environment contaminated with tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE), capability of the microorganism to degrade contaminants can be judged promptly. In order to achieve the above-described object, a biological activity judging method according to the present invention is a method of judging capability of a contaminated environment to eliminate an organochlorine compound, in which using a DNA probe that allows a bacterium to be detected specifically, which has a degradation activity with respect to the organochlorine compound and/or a dechlorinated product thereof, the bacterium in the environment is detected. The present invention also provides a new type of polynucleotide that can be used as a DNA probe in the biological activity judging method according to the present invention.

Abstract: Biology-based processes for detecting toxic substances are provided. The processes comprise transforming cells with a vector comprising a polynucleotide which comprises a promoter of certain yeast gene operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding a marker protein; contacting the transformed cells to test sample; and detecting the expression of mRNA encoding the marker protein, thus detecting a toxic compound in the test sample.

Abstract: Biology-based processes for detecting toxic substances are provided.

Abstract: Biology-based processes for detecting toxic substances are provided. The processes comprise detecting mRNA that is expressed in the presence of toxic substances by a cell comprising a yeast gene as followed, or a gene that is homologous to the yeast genes and is derived from other species, wherein the mRNA corresponds to said yeast gene or said homologous gene thereof.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a method whereby with respect to a microorganism present in an environment contaminated with tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE), capability of the microorganism to degrade contaminants can be judged promptly. In order to achieve the above-described object, a biological activity judging method according to the present invention is a method of judging capability of a contaminated environment to eliminate an organochlorine compound, in which using a DNA probe that allows a bacterium to be detected specifically, which has a degradation activity with respect to the organochlorine compound and/or a dechlorinated product thereof, the bacterium in the environment is detected. The present invention also provides a new type of polynucleotide that can be used as a DNA probe in the biological activity judging method according to the present invention.

Abstract: Biology-based processes for detecting toxic substances are provided. The processes comprise transforming cells with a vector comprising a polynucleotide which comprises a promoter of certain yeast gene operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding a marker protein; contacting the transformed cells to test sample; and detecting the expression of mRNA encoding the marker protein, thus detecting a toxic compound in the test sample.

Abstract: Biology-based processes for detecting toxic substances are provided. The processes comprise detecting mRNA that is expressed in the presence of toxic substances by a cell comprising a yeast gene as followed, or a gene that is homologous to the yeast genes and is derived from other species, wherein the mRNA corresponds to said yeast gene or said homologous gene thereof.