Abstract

The aim of this study is to get database to elucidate the quantity of DNA damage in Trachinotus ovatus from Mersin Bay in the North-eastern Mediterranean. Primarily, we have used the single-cell gel electrophoresis, commonly known as Comet assay to detect the strand breaks in DNA. This technique was performed on liver and gill tissues of T. ovatus captured from the Mersin Bay. The single cell gel electrophoresis was executed under alkaline conditions. The slides were neutralized with ice cold 0.4 M Tris buffer (pH 7.5) and stained with 80 ml ethidium bromide (20 mg/ml) and imaged with attachment of Leica fluorescent microscope integrated CC camera. DNA damage levels were determined from 100 cells for each sample. As a result of the COMET analysis; tail length, tail ıntensity and tail migration were 39.718±6.826 µm, 32.752±9.281% and 30.089±9.930 in gill tissues while they were 29.440±9.889 µm, 30.010±6.222 % and 19.119±5.025 in liver tissues respectively. it can be concluded that COMET analysis in T. ovatus from Mersin Bay can be a useful tool for screening genotoxic pollutants in the recipient environment.