Useful protocols to study DNA damage

Genomic instability is a phenomenon associated with numerous processes in all organisms, and it occurs as a consequence of DNA lesion accumulation. Evaluating and understanding DNA damage is fundamental to study the processes related to genomic instability, such as tumorigenesis, aging, neurodegeneration, and species evolution. In this chapter, we described three protocols that are canonically used to detect lesions in DNA: the alkaline comet assay, immunodetection of phosphorylated histone H2AX, and pyrimidine dimers immunodetection by slot-blot. We also describe simple modifications in these protocols that can adapt the technique to the specificities of each study.