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.

Descriptor ID	D004249
MeSH Number(s)	G05.355.180
Concept/Terms	DNA Damage DNA Damage DNA Damages Damage, DNA Damages, DNA DNA Injury DNA Injuries Injuries, DNA Injury, DNA Genotoxic Stress Genotoxic Stress Genotoxic Stresses Stresses, Genotoxic Stress, Genotoxic

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more general than "DNA Damage".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is related to "DNA Damage".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more specific than "DNA Damage".