Genotoxicity assessment of DNA damage by single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE)/comet assay in fish

Single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE), refercred to as 'comet assay' is a relatively simple, but sensitive and well validated tool for measuring strand breaks in DNA in single cells. The comet assay has advantages over other DNA damage methods, such as sister chromatid exchange, alkali elution and micronucleus assay, because of its high sensitivity and DNA strand breaks are determined in individual cells. The advantages of the SCGE assay include its demonstrated sensitivity for detecting low levels of DNA damage, the requirement for small numbers of cells per sample, its flexibility, low costs, ease of application, and short time needed to complete a study. Therefore, together with the convential chemical analysis, mutagenicity/genotoxicity assay should be included as additional parameter in water quality monitoring programme, their use could permit the quantification of mutagenic hazards in Surface waters. Based oil the current stage of knowledge, the comet assay can be used to determine DNA strand breaks in aquatic animals exposed to genotoxicants both in vitro and in vivo. In Fisheries sector researcher are also interested in detecting damage at a genetic level, to provide information needed to assist ecotoxicological monitoring and environmental assessment.