title: Detection of gamma radiation-induced DNA damage in maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) assessed using the comet assay.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Comet assay, being a quick, simple, sensitive, reliable and fairly inexpensive method for measuring DNA strand breaks, has been used to assess DNA damage caused by gamma radiation in developmental stages of maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky.
  
  
  METHODS
  An analysis of DNA damage following gamma radiation ((60)Cobalt) treatments at a dose of 0.5 and 1.0 kGy (Kilo Gray) has been carried out with cells obtained from the larvae, pupae and adults of S. zeamais.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gamma radiation induced significant damage at DNA level in the experimental larvae, pupae and adults as manifested by increased strand breaks compared to intact cells from non-irradiated ones. Comet assay revealed that tail length and % tail DNA varied significantly for all developmental stages of S. zeamais.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that the comet assay would be a potentially useful tool for detecting DNA damage in insect pest control strategies due to its advantages in the requirement of small numbers of cells per sample and sensitivity in detecting low levels of DNA damage.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Stored Product Protection, Department of Zoology, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi, Bangladesh. mmhbgd@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M D Mahbub
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.forename: Setsuko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Todoriki
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miyanoshita
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imamura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D005720:Gamma Rays; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D011679:Pupa / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D048889:Weevils / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000469:parasitology*