ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses specifically on the potential use of the transcriptional changes as the basis for developing a series of biomarkers for environmental monitoring. It examines what is known about the use of stress proteins as biomarkers and discusses the kinds of experiments that are needed in order for us to accurately evaluate their potential in environmental monitoring. Important criteria for evaluating the utility of tier I biomarkers for diagnosing sublethal stress would include: its ability to be used in a broad range of organisms when exposed to a wide variety of stress conditions in their environment, and that it correlates with decreased physiological function and survival of the organism. Tier II biomarkers should be detected in organisms exposed to a particular class of contaminants in their environment and be easily measured. The stress proteins represent changes in gene expression in response to environmental variables which are part of the cellular strategy to protect itself from potential damage.
