Abstract: A method of amplifying all of the DNA fragments of a sample, including fragments that are small or damaged, comprises an initial step of generating free 3′-OH end with P1 nuclease. The method also provides for extraction of the DNA fragments from a sample and reduction of their size to between 100 and 300 base pairs. A poly(dX) oligonucleotide is added to the 3′ ends of the DNA fragments using a terminal transferase, and the DNA is denatured and hybridized to a poly(dY) primer complementary to the poly(dX) ends. Finally, the DNA is polymerized with DNA polymerase. The resulting DNA can be amplified by denaturing and slowly renaturing the complementary strands.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for detecting impairment of DNA comprising contacting a sample DNA with a composition comprising at least one recognition protein selected from the group consisting of proteins belonging to the nucleotide excision repair system, proteins belonging to the base excision repair system, and proteins belonging to the system for detecting DNA breaks and detecting a complex formed between the recognition protein and DNA to thereby detect impairment of the DNA sequence.