Man-made carcinogens, natural genotoxic agents in the environment, as well as ionizing and ultraviolet radiation can damage DNA and are a constant threat to genome integrity. Throughout the evolution oflife, complex DNA repair systems have developed in all living organisms to cope with this damage. Unrepaired DNA lesions can promote genetic alterations (mutations) that may be linked to an altered phenotype, and, if growth-controlling genes are involved, these mutations can lead to cell transformation and the development of malignant tumors. Proto oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes may be critical targets for DNA damaging agents. In a number of animal model systems, correlations between exposure to a carcinogen, tumor develop ment, and genetic changes in tumor DNA have been established. To understand mutagenesis processes in more detail at the molecular level, we need to know the type and frequency of DNA adducts within cells, their distribution along genes and specific DNA sequences, as well as the rates at which they are repaired. We also need to know what types of mutations are produced and which gene positions are most prone to mutagenesis. This book provides a collection of techniques that are useful in mutagenesis research. The book is divided into three parts. In Part I, methods for DNA damage and repair analysis are provided.

''Useful and timely.'' ---Mutagenesis ''Of considerable value.'' ---Journal of Medical Genetics ''Quite readable....a comprehensive overview....perfectly covers the needs of those researchers who have to decide on the best strategy to identify damage or mutations at the molecular level.'' ---Trends in Cell Biology ''The formats of the presentations are uniform and ample and up-to-date references are provided at the end of each chapter...will be welcomed by postgraduate researchers of all ages and should retain its usefulness for a long time.'' ---Endeavour, 21(4), 1997 This important resource thoroughly reviews a wide range of techniques used in mutagenesis research-ranging from established techniques to recently developed methodologies-based on the polymerase chain reaction. DNA damage analysis, DNA repair assays, and mutation detection are a few of the techniques featured. Chapters present detailed experimental protocols benefiting researchers and students in the fields of toxicology, biotechniques, molecular biology, photobiology, medical genetics, and oncology.

Mutation detection is increasingly undertaken in a wide spectrum of research areas: in medicine it is fundamental in isolating disease genes and diagnbosis, and is especially important in cancer research; in biology, commercially important genes can be identified by the mutations they contain. But mutation detection is time-consuming and expensive. This volume offers the latest tried and tested protocols for a range of detection methods, from the labs of the leading researchers in the field.

The First International Congress on DNA Damage and Repair was held in Rome, Italy, July 12-17, 1987. It was organized by the Italian Com mission for Nuclear Alternative Energy Sources. The subject of DNA damage and repair involves almost all the fields ofbidogical sciences. Some of the more prominent ones include carcino genesis, photobiology, radiation biology, aging, enzymology, genetics, and molecular biology. These individual fields have their own interna tional meetings and although the meetings often have sessions devoted to DNA repair, they do not bring together a wide diversity of international workers in the field to exchange ideas. The purpose of the Congress was to facilitate such an exchange among scientists representing many fields of endeavor and many countries. The 37 manuscripts in this volume, presented by the invited spea kers during the four and half days of the Congress, encompass the field of DNA damage and repair. They cover biological systems ranging from mo lecules to humans and deal with damages and repair after treatment of cells with various types of radiations, chemicals, and exogenous and en dogenous oxidative damages. The Congress and its Proceedings are dedicated to two international leaders in the field of DNA damage and repair, Alexander Hollaender of the United States and Adriano Buzzati Traverso of Italy. Hollaender, who died in December 1986, was one of the first investigators to recognize the damage to DNA was important in cell killing and mutagenesis. His early work indicated that cells could recover from radiation injury.

DNA Repair Mechanisms is an account of the proceedings at a major international conference on DNA Repair Mechanisms held at Keystone, Colorado on February 1978. The conference discusses through plenary sessions the overall standpoint of DNA repair. The papers presented and other important documents, such as short summaries by the workshop session conveners, comprise this book. The compilation describes the opposing views, those that agree and dispute about certain topic areas. This book, divided into 15 parts, is arranged according to the proceedings in the conference. The plenary sessions are ...

This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue " Chemically-Induced DNA Damage, Mutagenesis, and Cancer" that was published in IJMS

Raising hopes for disease treatment and prevention, but also the specter of discrimination and "designer genes," genetic testing is potentially one of the most socially explosive developments of our time. This book presents a current assessment of this rapidly evolving field, offering principles for actions and research and recommendations on key issues in genetic testing and screening. Advantages of early genetic knowledge are balanced with issues associated with such knowledge: availability of treatment, privacy and discrimination, personal decision-making, public health objectives, cost, and more. Among the important issues covered: Quality control in genetic testing. Appropriate roles for public agencies, private health practitioners, and laboratories. Value-neutral education and counseling for persons considering testing. Use of test results in insurance, employment, and other settings.

Stands as the most comprehensive guide to the subject-covering every essential topic related to DNA damage identification and repair. Covering a wide array of topics from bacteria to human cells, this book summarizes recent developments in DNA damage repair and recognition while providing timely reviews on the molecular mechanisms employe

The processes of DNA recombination and repair are vital to cell integrity - an error can lead to disease such as cancer. It is therefore a large and exciting area of research and is also taught on postgraduate and undergraduate courses. This book is not a comprehensive view of the field, but a selection of the issues currently at the forefront of knowledge.

This book reevaluates the health risks of ionizing radiation in light of data that have become available since the 1980 report on this subject was published. The data include new, much more reliable dose estimates for the A-bomb survivors, the results of an additional 14 years of follow-up of the survivors for cancer mortality, recent results of follow-up studies of persons irradiated for medical purposes, and results of relevant experiments with laboratory animals and cultured cells. It analyzes the data in terms of risk estimates for specific organs in relation to dose and time after exposure, and compares radiation effects between Japanese and Western populations.