diff --git a/src/app/features/genes/components/gene-comparison-tool/gene-comparison-tool.component.ts b/src/app/features/genes/components/gene-comparison-tool/gene-comparison-tool.component.ts
index 48494c71..2c675120 100644
--- a/src/app/features/genes/components/gene-comparison-tool/gene-comparison-tool.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/features/genes/components/gene-comparison-tool/gene-comparison-tool.component.ts
@@ -360,6 +360,7 @@ export class GeneComparisonToolComponent implements OnInit, AVI, OnDestroy {
 
     if (!this.sortField || !this.columns.includes(this.sortField)) {
       this.sortField = this.columns[0];
+      this.sortOrder = -1;
     }
 
     const preSelection = this.helperService.getGCTSelection();
diff --git a/tests/gene-comparison-tool.spec.ts b/tests/gene-comparison-tool.spec.ts
index 50f7d55d..571c8702 100644
--- a/tests/gene-comparison-tool.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/gene-comparison-tool.spec.ts
@@ -1,30 +1,75 @@
 import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
-import { URL_GCT_PROTEIN } from './helpers/constants';
+import { GCT_CATEGORIES, URL_GCT_PROTEIN } from './helpers/constants';
 import { waitForSpinnerNotVisible } from './helpers/utils';
+import { baseURL } from '../playwright.config';
+import { changeGctCategory, closeGctHelpDialog } from './helpers/gct';
+
+const URL_GCT = '/genes/comparison';
+const URL_RNA = '/genes/comparison?';
+const URL_PROTEIN = '/genes/comparison?category=Protein+-+Differential+Expression';
 
 test.describe('specific viewport block', () => {
   test.slow();
   test.use({ viewport: { width: 1600, height: 1200 } });
 
   test('has title', async ({ page }) => {
-    await page.goto(URL_GCT_PROTEIN);
+    await page.goto(`${ URL_GCT }`);
 
     // wait for page to load (i.e. spinner to disappear)
-    await waitForSpinnerNotVisible(page, 250000);
+    await waitForSpinnerNotVisible(page, 250_000);
 
     // Expect a title "to contain" a substring.
     await expect(page).toHaveTitle('Gene Comparison | Visual comparison tool for AD genes');
   });
 
-  test('sub-category is SRM by default', async ({ page }) => {
+  test('protein has sub-category of SRM by default', async ({ page }) => {
     // set category for Protein - Differential Expression
     await page.goto(URL_GCT_PROTEIN);
 
     // wait for page to load (i.e. spinner to disappear)
-    await waitForSpinnerNotVisible(page, 150000);
+    await waitForSpinnerNotVisible(page, 150_000);
   
     // expect sub-category dropdown to be SRM
     const dropdown = page.locator('#subCategory');
     await expect(dropdown).toHaveText('Targeted Selected Reaction Monitoring (SRM)');
   });
+
+  test('switching from RNA to Protein with RNA-specific column ordering reverts back to Risk Score descending', async ({ page }) => {
+    // set category to RNA
+    await page.goto(`${ URL_RNA }`);
+
+    // wait for page to load (i.e. spinner to disappear)
+    await waitForSpinnerNotVisible(page, 150_000);
+
+    // Gene Comparison Overview tutorial modal
+    const tutorialModal = page.getByText('Gene Comparison Overview');
+    await expect(tutorialModal).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000});
+
+    // close the Gene Comparison Overview tutorial modal
+    await closeGctHelpDialog(page);
+
+    // Gene Comparison Overview tutorial modal
+    await expect(tutorialModal).not.toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000});
+
+    // sort by FP ascending
+    const FPColumn = page.getByText('FP');
+    // first click sorts descending
+    await FPColumn.click();
+    // second click sorts ascending
+    await FPColumn.click();
+
+    // expect url to be correct
+    expect(page.url()).toBe(`${ baseURL }${ URL_RNA }sortField=FP&sortOrder=1`);
+
+    // change category to Protein
+    await changeGctCategory(page, GCT_CATEGORIES.RNA, GCT_CATEGORIES.PROTEIN);
+
+    // expect url to be correct
+    expect(page.url()).toBe(`${ baseURL }${ URL_PROTEIN }`);
+
+    // expect sort arrow to be descending
+    await expect(
+      page.getByRole('columnheader', { name: 'RISK SCORE' }).locator('i')
+    ).toHaveClass(/pi-sort-amount-down/); 
+  });
 });