Because of a lapse in government funding, the information on this website may not be up to date, transactions submitted via the website may not be processed, and the agency may not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted. The NIH Clinical Center (the research hospital of NIH) is open. For more details about its operating status, please visit cc.nih.gov. Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at opm.gov.

NLM Logo

Comet Assay MeSH Descriptor Data 2025


MeSH Heading
Comet Assay
Tree Number(s)
E05.196.401.153.150
E05.301.300.100.150
E05.393.560.150
E05.940.560.150
Unique ID
D020552
RDF Unique Identifier
http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D020552
Scope Note
A genotoxicological technique for measuring DNA damage in an individual cell using single-cell gel electrophoresis. Cell DNA fragments assume a comet with tail formation on electrophoresis and are detected with an image analysis system. Alkaline assay conditions facilitate sensitive detection of single-strand damage.
Entry Term(s)
Alkaline Comet Assay
Alkaline Single-Cell Gel Electrophoresis Assay
Electrophoresis, Gel, Single-Cell
Gel Electrophoresis, Single-Cell
Previous Indexing
Electrophoresis (1990-1999)
Electrophoresis, Agar Gel (1990-1999)
Mutagenicity Tests (1992-1999)
See Also
DNA Damage
Public MeSH Note
2000
History Note
2000
Date Established
2000/01/01
Date of Entry
1999/11/03
Revision Date
2008/07/08
Comet Assay Preferred
Alkaline Comet Assay Narrower
page delivered in 0.121s