Ethidium bromide has been used in a number of fluorimetric assays for nucleic acids.1,2,3 It has been shown to bind to single-stranded DNA (although not as strongly) and triple-stranded DNA.4 Because of its ability to bind to DNA, EtBr is an inhibitor of DNA polymerase. Ethidium bromide intercalates double-stranded DNA and RNA and acts as a frameshift mutagen. It can also be used in conjunction with acridine orange to differentiate between viable, apoptotic and necrotic cells.

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