Question

define the term COMET assay

Answer 1

COMET assay also known as single cell gel electrophoresis is a very useful techniques in identifying and measuring single and double strands break in individual eukaryotic cells.It also measures the transient DNA damage that is later on fixed in the cells.COMET assay may be conducted in vitro using single isolated cells from immortalized cells lines or in vivo for any tissue.Cells are embedded on agarose gel followed by lysis with detergent and high salts to form nucleoids.Electrophoresis is carried out a high pH resulting in comet like structure formation which is further observed by fluorescence microscopy.