title: The comet assay: a sensitive genotoxicity test for the detection of DNA damage and repair.
abstract: The comet assay (single-cell gel electrophoresis) is a simple and sensitive method for studying DNA damage and repair. In this microgel electrophoresis technique, a small number of cells suspended in a thin agarose gel on a microscope slide is lysed, electrophoresed, and stained with a fluorescent DNA-binding dye. Cells with increased DNA damage display increased migration of chromosomal DNA from the nucleus towards the anode, which resembles the shape of a comet. The assay has manifold applications in fundamental research for DNA damage and repair, in genotoxicity testing of novel chemicals and pharmaceuticals, environmental biomonitoring, and human population monitoring. This chapter describes a standard protocol of the alkaline comet assay and points to some useful modifications.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Humangenetik, Universität Ulm, Ulm, Germany. guenter.speit@uni-ulm.de
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Speit
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rothfuss
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D020552:Comet Assay / Q000379:methods*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000235:genetics*; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013194:Staining and Labeling