Intraspecific Sensitivity to Toxicants – a Methodological Problem of Bioassay: Review

The article discusses the scientific studies that reveal the mechanisms of intraspecific differences in responses of organisms to chemical exposure. The factors of individual sensitivity to toxicants are represented by genetic differences between individuals of the same species and genetically unconditioned factors. The genetic factors are mutations, including under-researched mitochondrial DNA mutations and genomic drift, genetic polymorphism, and gender-related differences. Age, conditions of keeping and state of organisms, seasonal variations of body functions, and biotic interactions are considered as the factors that are not related to the genetic apparatus. The article considers a number of works, in which the effects of the combined action of external factors on sensitivity of organisms in model groups are studied.