Ecotoxicological Assessment of Aquatic Genotoxicity Using the Comet Assay.docVIP

Hayati, September 2006, hlm. 124-130 Vol. 13, No. 3 ISSN 0854-8587 ULASAN EcotoxicologicalAssessment ofAquatic Genotoxicity Using the CometAssay KHUSNULYAQIN Environmental Science Study Programme, Bogor Agriculture University, Darmaga Campus, Bogor 16680 Tel./Fax. +62-411-585189, E-mail:kyaqin@ Diterima 23 September 2005/Disetujui 6 September 2006 Comet assay is a novel biological analysis, which is a sensitive, flexible, simple, rapid, and inexpensive method to assess aquatic genotoxicant. Since Singh and co-workers developed the method in 1988, its use has increased exponen- tially in various fields. This review discourses on the application of this assay in aquatic ecosystems. Various types of cells from various aquatic organisms have been tested by various genotoxicant both direct- and indirect-acting using the comet assay. The applications of this assay suggest that it is a useful assay to assess aquatic genotoxicants. However, there are some factors, which should be taken into account when using this assay as aquatic ecotoxicological assessment device such as inter-animal and cell variability. Key words: comet assay, aquatic genotoxicant, aquatic organism, ecotoxicological assesment ___________________________________________________________________________ Due to the increasing input of genotoxic agents into aquatic environment, growing interest in the worldwide problem in aquatic pollution has recently focused on attention on the assessment of the effect of genotoxic agents to organisms and ecosystems. Genetic approaches offer powerful tools for examining the current status of populations, inferring the history of population changes, and anticipating future population direction (Belfiore Anderson 2001). On living organisms, which have a sensitivity to genotoxicants, DNA damage owing to genotoxicants exposure in aquatic environment can be used as a