Current Protocols in Human Genetics

The method for SNP genotyping described in this unit is based on the commercially available Sequenom MassARRAY platform. The assay consists of an initial locus‐specific PCR reaction, followed by single base extension using mass‐modified dideoxynucleotide terminators of an oligonucleotide primer which anneals immediately upstream of the polymorphic site of interest. Using MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry, the distinct mass of the extended primer identifies the SNP allele. Curr. Protoc. Hum. Genet. 60:2.12.1‐2.12.18. © 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

COSMIC is currently the most comprehensive global resource for information on somatic mutations in human cancer, combining curation of the scientific literature with tumor resequencing data from the Cancer Genome Project at the Sanger Institute, U.K. Almost 4800 genes and 250000 tumors have been examined, resulting in over 50000 mutations available for investigation. This information can be accessed in a number of ways, the most convenient being the Web‐based system which allows detailed data mining, presenting the results in easily interpretable formats. This unit describes the graphical system in detail, elaborating an example walkthrough and the many ways that the resulting information can be thoroughly investigated by combining data, respecializing the query, or viewing the results in different ways. Alternate protocols overview the available precompiled data files available for download. Curr. Protoc. Hum. Genet. 57:10.11.1‐10.11.26. © 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

This unit describes the gene‐specific quantitative PCR‐based (QPCR) assay, which is used to measure DNA integrity of both nuclear and mitochondrial genomes based on amplification of long DNA targets. QPCR can be used to quantify the formation of DNA damage and the kinetics of DNA repair by following restoration of amplification of the target DNA over time after removal of the damaging agent. A detailed protocol to set up QPCR in any laboratory, highlighting critical parameters for successful establishment of the assay and interpretation of the results, is provided here. Advantages (e.g., the use of nanogram amounts of DNA) and limitations (e.g., the inability to define the specific type of lesion present on the DNA) of using QPCR to assay DNA damage in human cells are also described. Curr. Protoc. Hum. Genet. 62:19.1.1‐19.1.13. © 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.