INTERGENIC SUPPRESSION Meaning and
Definition
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Intergenic suppression is a term primarily used in genetics and molecular biology to describe a phenomenon where a mutation in one gene can counteract or mitigate the effect of a mutation in a second, unrelated gene. In other words, the presence of a specific genetic alteration in one gene suppresses the detrimental effects caused by a mutation in another gene. This occurs when the two genes are located on different chromosomes, or when they are located far apart on the same chromosome.
Intergenic suppression can have significant implications for understanding gene interactions and their role in the development of genetic disorders. By studying cases of intergenic suppression, scientists can gain insights into the functional relationships between different genes and how they influence each other's behavior.
The mechanism behind intergenic suppression can vary. In some cases, the mutation in one gene can produce a change in the protein it encodes, which indirectly compensates for the malfunction caused by the mutation in the second gene. Alternatively, the mutation in one gene may simply alter the expression of the second gene, leading to a compensatory effect. These compensatory alterations can restore the normal functioning of cellular processes affected by the initial mutation.
Intergenic suppression has significance not only in genetic research but also in applied fields like medicine and biotechnology. Understanding how certain mutations can provide protection against the harmful effects of other mutations can help in the development of potential therapeutic strategies for genetic disorders. Additionally, it contributes to our knowledge of gene regulation and the complex interactions that determine an organism's genetic makeup.
Common Misspellings for INTERGENIC SUPPRESSION
- untergenic suppression
- jntergenic suppression
- kntergenic suppression
- ontergenic suppression
- 9ntergenic suppression
- 8ntergenic suppression
- ibtergenic suppression
- imtergenic suppression
- ijtergenic suppression
- ihtergenic suppression
- inrergenic suppression
- infergenic suppression
- ingergenic suppression
- inyergenic suppression
- in6ergenic suppression
- in5ergenic suppression
- intwrgenic suppression
- intsrgenic suppression
- intdrgenic suppression
- intrrgenic suppression
Etymology of INTERGENIC SUPPRESSION
The word "intergenic suppression" originates from the field of genetics, specifically from the study of genes and their interactions. Here is the breakdown of the etymology:
1. Intergenic: The term "intergenic" is a combination of two parts: "inter-" meaning between or among, and "genic" referring to genes. "Inter-" is derived from the Latin prefix "inter" meaning between, while "genic" is derived from the Latin word "genus" meaning birth or origin. Therefore, "intergenic" refers to something occurring between genes or in the non-coding regions between genes.
2. Suppression: The term "suppression" comes from the Latin word "supprimere" meaning to press down or restrain. In genetics, it refers to the process where a mutation and its resulting phenotype are suppressed or masked by a second mutation at another genetic locus.
