Genotoxicity assays: The micronucleus test and the single-cell gel electrophoresis assay (Chapter 18)

Abstract

Genotoxicity is the property of various factors that can damage the genetic material within a cell and may lead to mutations. A number of assays are available to detect damage occurring at the DNA level and have been reviewed extensively in available literature. The genotoxicity assays that have been elaborated in this chapter are the micronucleus test and comet assay. These tests are rapid, sensitive, and reliable techniques that are employed to assess DNA damage. These tests can be used on a wide variety of cells from any organism and can be performed either in the field or in the laboratory. Modern advances have led to the modification of these techniques to better understand the mechanisms of DNA damage as well as regions of the genome that are prone to alterations.