Ames Test Definition

āmz
noun
A laboratory test for the carcinogenic potential of a substance, in which bacteria are exposed to the substance to determine whether it will cause mutations.
Webster's New World
A test used to determine the mutagenic potential of a substance, in which salmonella bacteria that are unable to synthesize histidine are introduced into the substance, and the substance is deemed mutagenic and carcinogenic if the bacteria regain the ability to synthesize histidine.
American Heritage Medicine

Origin of Ames Test

  • After Bruce Ames (born 1928), American biochemist

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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Ames test