Computerized image analysis of sister chromatid exchanges in Chinese hamster ovary cells

In this paper we show that sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) can be analysed by computer-supported determination of areas and shapes of darkly stained chromatid sections. In combination with appropriate statistical analyses, our method leads to measurements of SCE frequencies in neocarzinostatin-treated Chinese hamster ovary cells which are nearly as precise as the ones obtained by classical microscopical analyses. We discuss our data as an approach to the development of a fully automated SCE scoring system.