single-cell gel electrophoresis, a type of gel electrophoresis used to detect the genotoxic potential of environmental hazards, such as radiation, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals. Such agents may cause breaks in the nuclear DNA of cells. When such a cell is lysed and exposed to electrophoresis that denatures its DNA, the damaged DNA moves toward the electric field, making a formation like the tail of a comet. Also called comet assay.
