NCIt definition : Drug-, radiation-induced, or spontaneous injuries to DNA that introduce deviations
from its normal double-helical conformation. These changes include structural distortions
that interfere with replication and transcription, as well as point mutations that
disrupt base pairs and exert damaging effects on future generations through changes
in DNA sequence. If the damage is minor, it can often be repaired (DNA repair); extensive
damage can induce apoptosis.;