Summary The induction of chromosome damage by the Platinum complex CHIP in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells has been studied, together with the relationship between cell survival and aberration frequency. The type and frequency of chromosome aberrations observed in asynchronous and G, phase treated cells indicated a similar mode of action to that of bifunctional alkylating agents. A log-linear relationship was observed between the frequency of chromatid aberrations (excluding gaps) and the level of survival after CHIP treatment, with approximately one aberration per cell corresponding to 37% survival.Cis dichloro-bis (isopropylamine) trans dihydroxy platinum IV-CHIP-is one of the new platinum co-ordination complexes in the group of potential antitumour agents, whose cytotoxic action has now been studied extensively. It can be compared with another platinum complex cis-dichloro-bis (cyclopentylamine) platinum (II), PAD, which although insoluble in water was found to have a high antitumour activity and a large therapeutic index (235), (Connors et al., 1972). In contrast, CHIP is highly water soluble and this has encouraged further investigation into its mode of action.Results from several workers indicate that DNA is the primary intracellular target for the cytotoxic action of the platinum complexes, where inter-and intra-strand crosslinks are produced (Roberts & Pascoe, 1972;Kelman et al., 1977). These effects of platinum complexes on DNA point to a similar mode of action to that observed with bifunctional alkylating agents; i.e. the production of "delayed type" chromosome aberrations as a result of DNA synthesis on a damaged template (Bender et al., 1974).Studies were undertaken to examine this possibility and to understand better the mechanism underlying the cytotoxic action of CHIP. In this paper the results of the investigation of the production of chromosome aberrations by CHIP in