Alterations in mitochondrial DNA: a technique for the detection of irradiated BEEF

DNA molecules are very sensitive to ionizing radiation, even at low doses. Strand breaks are easy to detect despite the generally low DNA content of foods, but such ruptures are not specific to radiation processing. In order to make DNA strand rupture more specific to radiation (other than by deep freezing) it appears necessary to isolate the irradiated DNA from cellular enzymes. This is the case for mitochondrial DNA that is protected from enzymatic reactions by the mitochondrial walls but not from radiation. It can be assumed that DNA strand breaks in mitochondria will be specific to ionizing radiation. The authors explain their methods to extract and analyse the mitochondrial DNA