In Situ Detection of Apoptosis by the TUNEL Assay: An Overview of Techniques
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Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, plays an important role in normal development and homeostasis of adult tissues. Apoptosis
            has also been linked to many disease states, including cancer. One of the biochemical hallmarks of apoptosis is the generation
            of free 3′-hydroxyl termini on DNA via cleavage of chromatin into single and multiple oligonuleosome-length fragments. The
            TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay exploits this biochemical hallmark by labeling the exposed termini
            of DNA, thereby enabling visualization of nuclei containing fragmented DNA. This review outlines the general method for in situ
 TUNEL staining of cultured cells and tissue sections, and highlights recent improvements in the technique and limitations
            of the assay.
         
      










