Automated Assessment of Low-Dose Radiation Damage

We propose to develop and commercialize automated microscope instrumentation for the rapid, unattended assessment of chromosome breakage in human lymphocytes and other cells. The instrument will report, with very low estimation error rates, the proportion of cells suffering genetic damage. We propose to use fluorescence in-situ hybridization ~FISH) with chromosome painting probes, labeling number 1, 2 and 3 chromosomes with different colors. A modified GenetiScanner robotic microscope with 60 slide capacity will analyze the interphase cells, tabulating the incidence of chromosome breakage and translocations on previously unattainably large numbers of cells. Statistical analysis, using large sample size, will yield usable estimates of the chromosome breakage rate for low radiation doses. This will directly support NASA's upcoming Shuttle/MIRS 90-day missions that will study space flight-induced genetic damage and the effectiveness of radioprotectants.