An important aspect of understanding and evaluating the impact of DNA damage is identifying how the damage is repaired and what causes that repair to fail. The DNA structure is a double-stranded helix, which is packaged with proteins into structures called metaphase chromosomes to allow for cell division. Breaking both strands of DNA creates a lesion that is difficult to repair as genetic information is lost and leads to aberrations in the chromosomes.

Our main focus is on the metaphases chromosomes and how alterations their structure can lead to cancer, reproductive and developmental toxicity. Because of that focus we seek to understand the repair pathways for metal-induced DNA double strand breaks, what causes that repair to fail and how co-exposure to one metal may alter the repair of damage induced by another metal.

Current projects studying the repair of metal-induced DNA damage in the Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicity include:

	Chromium Studies		Depleted Uranium Studies
	Arsenic Studies		Marine Mammal Studies
	Nanoparticle Studies