Main Entry: Ames test

Pronunciation: \ˈāmz-\

Function: noun

: a test for identifying potential carcinogens by studying the frequency with which they cause histidine-producing genetic mutants in bacterial colonies of the genus Salmonella (S. typhimurium) initially lacking the ability to synthesize histidine

Ames, Bruce Nathan (born 1928), American biochemist. In 1976 Ames devised his test for carcinogenesis of a substance.