Injuries to DNA that introduce deviations from its normal, intact structure and which may, if left unrepaired, result in a MUTATION or a block of DNA REPLICATION. These deviations may be caused by physical or chemical agents and occur by natural or unnatural, introduced circumstances. They include the introduction of illegitimate bases during replication or by deamination or other modification of bases; the loss of a base from the DNA backbone leaving an abasic site; single-strand breaks; double strand breaks; and intrastrand (PYRIMIDINE DIMERS) or interstrand crosslinking. Damage can often be repaired (DNA REPAIR). If the damage is extensive, it can induce APOPTOSIS.

Annotation

do not use /drug eff & /rad eff for DNA damage induced by drugs or radiation; do not confuse with DNA FRAGMENTATION: see note there

DUI

D004249 MeSH Browser

CUI

M0006649

Previous indexing

DNA (1966-1986); DNA Repair (1971-1986); DNA Replication (1968-1986)

History note

87

Public note

87