Phenomena and Processes

DNA Damage

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.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

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.

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Synonyms

7 entry terms
  • DNA Injury
  • DNA Lesion
  • DNA Lesions
  • Injury, DNA
  • DNA Injuries
  • Genotoxic Stress
  • Stress, Genotoxic

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

6 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings drug effects, ethics, genetics, immunology, physiology, radiation effects.

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Indexing 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

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History Note

87

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Previous Indexing

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

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. G05.200w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

QU 510

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. DNA Damage. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D004249. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D004249
  2. DNA Damage. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_damage_(naturally_occurring)
  3. DNA Damage. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5205747