The invention concerns novel methods for determining the toxic potential of test compounds, as well as equipment and kits for implementing said methods. The invention also concerns methods for generating nucleic acid sequences for use as genetic markers of toxicity. The invention is based in particular on the constitution of differential libraries of nucleic acids, characteristic of situations wherein the viability and/or cell proliferation are disrupted, and for demonstrating that said libraries are useful for very dependably assessing with high degree of sensitivity the toxic profile of compounds. The invention is particularly useful in the pharmaceutical industry, for analysing the toxic profile of molecules to be used for pharmaceutical preparation and/or in pharmaceutical compositions.