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Abstract: Advances in genomics, the study of the structure and function of our genetic makeup, are fundamentally transforming toxicology, the science of how toxic substances affect our bodies. These changes will inevitably spill over into the legal regimes that frequently rely on toxicological data, including toxic torts and environmental regulation. Two key applications of genomic data for toxic torts and environmental regulation are (i) the study of the expression of genes in cells or tissues in response to toxicant; and (ii) the identification of genetic variations affecting susceptibility to toxic agents. This article will address the application of toxicogenomics to toxic torts and environmental regulation. After first describing the scientific background of toxicogenomics, this article explores some potential uses of toxicogenomic data in regulation and litigation involving toxic substances.
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