The Comet Assay in Toxicology

Concerns about the adverse effects of chemicals present in the environment have created a need for better systems to assess their potential consequences on human health. One potential solution is the versatile and state-of-the-art Comet assay. Simple, sensitive, rapid and visual, this modern toxicological method allows quantitative and qualitative assessment of DNA damage in single cells. This assay is used in diverse fields ranging from clinical applications, human monitoring and environmental toxicology through to genetic toxicity testing.
This updated and revised edition of The Comet Assay in Toxicology provides the latest information on this important tool. It addresses, in-depth, the different protocols, statistical analyses and applications used worldwide. It also includes the guidelines recommended by the Working Group on Comet Assay. The book begins with a review of the genesis of the assay for those new to the technique and goes on to explain procedures followed to assess different types of DNA damage, various applications of the assay, and guidelines for the conduct of the assay in in vitro and in vivo systems. New chapters written for this edition will provide information on the most contemporary approaches and applications, including in silico approaches, on meta-analysis of data and on the application of the Comet Assay in nanotoxicology.
This book will serve as both a reference and a guide to students as well as investigators in the biomedical, biochemical and pharmaceutical sciences fields.
About the Author: Professor Alok Dhawan (PhD, FNASc, ATS, FINS, FAEB, FSTOX) is currently the Director, Institute of Life Sciences, Ahmedabad University and Senior Principal Scientist, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow. He obtained his PhD in Biochemistry from University of Lucknow, India in 1991. Professor Dhawan has won several honours and awards including INSA Young Scientists Medal in 1994, CSIR Young Scientist Award in 1999, the Shakuntala Amir Chand Prize of ICMR in 2001 and the Vigyan Ratna by the Council of Science and Technology, U.P. in 2011. He is the founder of the Indian Nanoscience Society established in 2007. He is the Member of various Government committees. He has to his credit several Fellowships of prestigious institutions in India and abroad such as The National Academy of Sciences, India; and The Academy of Toxicological Sciences, USA.
Professor Diana Anderson (MSc, PhD, DipEd, FSB, FRCPath, FIFST, FATS, FBTS, FHEA, FRSM, FRSC) currently holds the Established Chair at the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Bradford, UK. In 1974, Professor Anderson was appointed as Head of Mutagenesis Studies at ICI's Central Toxicology Laboratory and she joined BIBRA International in 1981 as Head of Genetic and Reproductive Toxicology and became Assistant Director and Group Forum Co-ordinator in 1987. In 1992, she became Senior Associate and Co-ordinator of External Affairs at BIBRA. She has contributed significantly in the fields of genetic & reproductive toxicology and molecular epidemiology.