DNA damage and repair in individual cells: applications of the comet assay in radiobiology

PL Olive - International journal of radiation biology, 1999 - Taylor & Francis
PL Olive
International journal of radiation biology, 1999Taylor & Francis
The comet assay is a single-cell gel electrophoresis method that can measure a variety of
types of DNA damage, and repair of damage, in individual cells. It is now in widespread use
in genetic toxicology and oncology. This review describes the history of the development of
this method and its applications in radiation biology, with particular emphasis on the use of
the comet assay to measure heterogeneity in DNA damage in cells exposed to ionizing
radiation.
The comet assay is a single-cell gel electrophoresis method that can measure a variety of types of DNA damage, and repair of damage, in individual cells. It is now in widespread use in genetic toxicology and oncology. This review describes the history of the development of this method and its applications in radiation biology, with particular emphasis on the use of the comet assay to measure heterogeneity in DNA damage in cells exposed to ionizing radiation.
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