What are the advantages of isotopic methods ?
Isotopic methods, in practice, have an unequalled degree of sensitivity and specificity. The techniques of labelling and detection are simple, robust and well established. Most non-radioactive methods make use of labels consisting of chemical groups that are often large enough to interfere with the process being investigated. Isotopic methods are quantifiable which is not always the case with non-isotopic ones. In detecting point mutations, e.g. using SSCP, there is better discrimination between the wild type and the mutant using isotopes.
