Asymptotic results for a problem of DNA breakage

Abstract

Double-stranded DNA molecules can be damaged by enzymic action or radiation, in a manner which creates randomly-located single-stranded breaks (nicks). The accumulation of these leads eventually to the double-stranded breakage of the molecule, because two opposite-strand nicks within a critical distance of each other establish conditions for breakage. We study the random variable N, defined as the number of nicks needed for double-stranded breakage to occur. We develop an asymptotic theory which is needed for practical computations.