Sea urchin coelomocytes are resistant to a variety of DNA damaging agents

► Coelomocytes from the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus are resistant to a variety of genotoxic agents. ► Resistance to DNA damage may limit their utility as cellular biosensors of environmental stress. ► Varying resistance to genotoxic agents occurs in coelomocytes/hemocytes of different marine species. ► Varying sensitivity to genotoxic agents may contribute to the variation in occurrence of neoplastic disease in different animal groups.