A NEW SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT FOR BIOGENETIC TOXICITY TESTING

BASED ON OUR RESEARCH, WE FEEL THAT THE STAINING PROPERTIES OF SITS (4-ACETOAMIDO-4'-ISOTHIOCYANOSTILBENE 2,2' DISULPHONIC ACID), A REAGENT WHICH ENABLES IN SITU VISUALIZATION AND DISCRIMINATION AMONG LIVING, DYING AND DEAD CELLS, MAKE IT A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR USE IN AN APPROPRIATELY DESIGNED INSTRUMENT. WE PROPOSE AN AUTOMATED VIDEO MICROSCOPE WITH MEMORY AND POSSIBLE REMOTE VIEWING CAPABILITY. IT WOULD MAKE USE OF SITS'S STAINING PROPERTIES TO PROVIDE BIOGENETIC TOXICITY MEASUREMENTS AT A REASONABLE COST. THE NEED FOR SUCH AN INSTRUMENT IS STATED IN AF 87-241. TO ESTABLISH THE FEASIBILITY OF THIS APPROACH, WE PROPOSE TO PERFORM A THOROUGH SEARCH OF GOVERNMENT, COMMERCIAL AND ACADEMIC LITERATURE USING DTIC, AVAILABLE DATA BASES AND SEARCHES AND LOCAL LIBRARY RESOURCES. AREAS OF CONCENTRATION WILL INCLUDE, TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS, RELIABILITY AND COST. WE SHALL INSPECT THE INSTRUMENTS, THEMSELVES WHEREVER POSSIBLE. THE COLLECTED DATA WILL BE TABULATED, ANALYZED AND SUBJECTED TO DECISION LOGIC. THE DECISION TO CONTINUE TO PHASE II, FABRICATION AND TESTING OF A SITS INSTRUMENT, WILL BE BASED ON PHASE I RESULTS.