Pitfalls of Specific Radioactivity in measuring Synthesis of Deoxyribonucleic Acid

Abstract

SINCE the introduction of radioactive labels in biological research a tendency has arisen to measure the specific radioactivity of nucleic acid components (usually expressed as counts per minute per µmole or mgm. material) and to equate such measurements with a synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid, or even growth-rate of tissues. Certain factors are, however, frequently neglected.