Investigating oxidative DNA damage and its repair using the comet assay

The comet assay is not the only way to measure oxidative DNA damage, but it is one of the most sensitive and accurate, being relatively free of artefacts. It is a valuable tool in population monitoring, for example in assessing the role of oxidative stress in human disease, and in monitoring the effects of dietary antioxidants. A simple modification allows the measurement of DNA repair. In combination with the analysis of polymorphisms in relevant genes, the comet assay - especially when adapted for analysis of large numbers of samples - can provide important information on the interactions between genetic variation and environmental factors in maintaining genome stability.