How Do You Spell CENTIMORGAN?

Pronunciation: [sˈɛntɪmˌɔːɡən] (IPA)

The word "centimorgan" refers to a unit of measure used in genetics to describe the distance between genes on a chromosome. It is spelled as [ˈsɛntɪˌmɔrgən] using the International Phonetic Alphabet. The first part of the word, "centi," suggests a hundredth part of something, such as a centimeter. The second part, "morgan," is named after geneticist Thomas Hunt Morgan. The spelling of this word can be tricky due to the unusual combination of letters, but its pronunciation follows the typical English phonetic patterns.

CENTIMORGAN Meaning and Definition

1. A centimorgan, often abbreviated as cM, is a unit of measurement used in genetic studies to indicate the distance between two genes or genetic markers on a chromosome. It is named after the renowned British geneticist, Thomas Hunt Morgan.

   One centimorgan represents a 1% chance of recombination occurring between two genes during the formation of gametes (sex cells) in an organism. Recombination is the process where genetic material gets exchanged or shuffled during the formation of sperm and eggs. Centimorgans therefore serve as a measure of the probability of exchange happening between two specific positions along a chromosome.

   To calculate the distance in centimorgans, scientists study the frequency of recombination events, specifically the proportion of offspring resulting from genetic recombination compared to the total number of offspring. By analyzing large populations and observing how frequently recombination occurs between linked genes, researchers can estimate the distance in units of centimorgans.

   The centimorgan, being a logarithmic and probabilistic unit, does not represent an exact physical length. Instead, it provides a relative measure used for mapping the positions of genes on chromosomes and constructing genetic maps. These maps help scientists understand patterns of inheritance, gene linkage, and genetic diversity among populations. The unit is widely employed in genetic research as it provides a standard metric for comparing relative genetic distances across different species.

Common Misspellings for CENTIMORGAN

• xentimorgan
• ventimorgan
• fentimorgan
• dentimorgan
• cwntimorgan
• csntimorgan
• cdntimorgan
• crntimorgan
• c4ntimorgan
• c3ntimorgan
• cebtimorgan
• cemtimorgan
• cejtimorgan
• cehtimorgan
• cenrimorgan
• cenfimorgan
• cengimorgan
• cenyimorgan
• cen6imorgan
• cen5imorgan

Etymology of CENTIMORGAN

The word "centimorgan" is derived from two parts: "centi" and "morgan".

- Centi: The prefix "centi" is derived from the Latin word "centum", meaning "hundred". It generally denotes a division by one hundred.

- Morgan: The term "morgan" is named after the American geneticist Thomas Hunt Morgan, who made significant contributions to the field of genetics in the early 20th century. Morgan is best known for his work on fruit flies, where he experimentally observed and explained the phenomenon of genetic linkage and recombination. He introduced the concept of the "morgan" as a unit of genetic linkage distance, representing the distance between two genes on a chromosome where the probability of recombination occurring is 0.01, or 1%.

Plural form of CENTIMORGAN is CENTIMORGANS