Methods and compositions utilizing rad51

A method of diagnosing individuals at risk for cancer comprising

• a) determining the distribution of Rad51 foci in a potential cancerous tissue type of a first individual;
• and
• b) comparing said distribution to the distribution of Rad51 foci from a second normal tissue type from said first individual or a second unaffected individual;
• wherein a difference in said distributions indicates that the first individual is at risk for a cancer which results in aberrant Rad51 loci.

A method of diagnosing individuals at risk for a disease state associated with apoptosis, said method comprising

• a) determining the distribution of Rad51 foci in a first tissue type of a first individual;
• and
• b) comparing said distribution to the distribution of Rad51 foci from a second normal tissue type from said first individual or a second unaffected individual;
• wherein a difference in said distributions indicates that the first individual is at risk for a disease state associated with apoptosis which results in aberrant Rad51 loci.

A method for identifying an apoptotic cell comprising

• a) determining the distribution of Rad51 foci in a first cell;
• and
• b) comparing said distribution to the distribution of Rad51 foci from a second non-apoptotic cell;
• wherein a difference in said distributions indicates that the first cell is apoptotic.

A method for identifying a cell under stress associated with nucleic acid modification comprising

• a) determining the distribution of Rad51 foci in a first cell;
• and
• b) comparing said distribution to the distribution of Rad51 foci from a second non-affected cell;
• wherein a difference in said distributions indicates that the first cell is under stress associated with nucleic acid modification.