MICROSATELLITE REPEATS Meaning and
Definition
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Microsatellite repeats, also known as short tandem repeats (STRs) or simple sequence repeats (SSRs), are short segments of DNA consisting of repetitive sequences of nucleotides. These repetitive sequences typically consist of two to six nucleotide base pairs that are repeated in tandem, meaning they are arranged consecutively in the DNA molecule.
Microsatellite repeats are considered non-coding regions of DNA as they do not contain instructions for protein synthesis. They are widely dispersed throughout the genome and are particularly abundant in the non-coding regions. Due to their repetitive nature, microsatellite repeats display high levels of polymorphism, meaning there is significant variation in the repeat sequences among individuals of the same species.
The number of times a particular sequence is repeated can vary widely between individuals, leading to the existence of different alleles within a population. These variations in repeat number can be detected using molecular biology techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and are commonly used in genetic analysis, population studies, and forensics.
Microsatellite repeats are highly mutable and prone to DNA replication errors, which can result in the expansion or contraction of the repeat sequences. This process, known as microsatellite instability, is associated with certain genetic disorders and diseases such as Huntington's disease and various types of cancer. Additionally, microsatellite repeats have been used as genetic markers in studies of evolutionary relationships, gene mapping, and population genetics due to their high mutation rates and polymorphic nature.
Common Misspellings for MICROSATELLITE REPEATS
- nicrosatellite repeats
- kicrosatellite repeats
- jicrosatellite repeats
- mucrosatellite repeats
- mjcrosatellite repeats
- mkcrosatellite repeats
- mocrosatellite repeats
- m9crosatellite repeats
- m8crosatellite repeats
- mixrosatellite repeats
- mivrosatellite repeats
- mifrosatellite repeats
- midrosatellite repeats
- miceosatellite repeats
- micdosatellite repeats
- micfosatellite repeats
- mictosatellite repeats
- mic5osatellite repeats
- mic4osatellite repeats
- micrisatellite repeats
Etymology of MICROSATELLITE REPEATS
The word "Microsatellite" originates from the combination of "micro" and "satellite". "Micro" comes from the Greek word "mikros", meaning small, while "satellite" refers to an object that orbits around a larger one. In genetics, microsatellites are short, repetitive sequences of DNA that exist throughout an organism's genome.
"Repeats" in the context of genetics refers to the repetition of specific DNA sequences within the genome. Therefore, "Microsatellite Repeats" refers to the repetitive nature of the short DNA sequences known as microsatellites.
Overall, the etymology of the term "Microsatellite Repeats" combines the concept of small repetitive sequences (microsatellites) within the genome.
