Detection of Mutational Frequency in Human Bone Marrow

To date there have been no adequate methods to determine the frequency of mutations in humans. This invention discloses a method of measuring the mutational frequency of a mitochondrial DNA sequence by sequencing mitochondrial DNA from clonally expanded single cells such as CD34+ human stem cells. Sequencing for mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms and mutations may also be useful as a general method to detect minimal residual disease in leukemia. The mitochondrial genome is particularly susceptible to mutations and these may be used to measure genomic mutagenesis by virtue of comparison. The application of this invention includes the determination of mutational frequency after chemotherapy, radiation, environmental toxic exposure and genetic disease. The invention also provides a screening for an agent that has a mutagenic effect on a cell.