MINISATELLITE REPEATS Meaning and
Definition
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Minisatellite repeats, also known as variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs), refer to specific DNA sequences that are repeated multiple times in a genome. These repeats consist of short repeating units of 10 to 60 base pairs, which are arranged in a tandem fashion. The repeated units can vary in length and composition, giving rise to the term "variable number."
Minisatellite repeats are characterized by a high degree of polymorphism in the population, meaning that the number of repeats can differ among individuals. This polymorphic nature makes minisatellite repeats useful for genetic profiling and DNA fingerprinting, as they can be used to distinguish individuals based on their unique repeat patterns.
These repeats are dispersed throughout the genome and are often found in non-coding regions of DNA, such as introns or intergenic regions. They are thought to play a role in genome stability and can influence gene expression and regulation. Additionally, some minisatellite repeats have been associated with certain genetic disorders and diseases.
The study of minisatellite repeats has been instrumental in various fields of research, including forensic science, population genetics, and evolutionary biology. Techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing are commonly employed to detect and analyze minisatellite repeats.
In summary, minisatellite repeats are repetitive DNA sequences that are characterized by variable numbers of tandemly repeated units. They exhibit high polymorphism and have a wide range of applications in genetic research and human identification.
Common Misspellings for MINISATELLITE REPEATS
- ninisatellite repeats
- kinisatellite repeats
- jinisatellite repeats
- munisatellite repeats
- mjnisatellite repeats
- mknisatellite repeats
- monisatellite repeats
- m9nisatellite repeats
- m8nisatellite repeats
- mibisatellite repeats
- mimisatellite repeats
- mijisatellite repeats
- mihisatellite repeats
- minusatellite repeats
- minjsatellite repeats
- minksatellite repeats
- minosatellite repeats
- min9satellite repeats
- min8satellite repeats
- miniaatellite repeats
Etymology of MINISATELLITE REPEATS
The term "minisatellite repeats" is a combination of two words: "minisatellite" and "repeats".
1. Minisatellite: The word "minisatellite" comes from its association with "satellite DNA". Satellite DNA refers to repetitive sequences of DNA that are found in the genome. In the case of minisatellites, they are a specific type of satellite DNA characterized by the length of the repetitive sequence.
The term "minisatellite" was first coined by Alec Jeffreys, a British geneticist, in the late 1970s. He discovered these repeats while studying DNA variation and used the term "minisatellite" to distinguish them from "microsatellites" (short repetitive sequences). The "mini-" prefix denotes their intermediate length compared to longer "macrosatellites" and shorter "microsatellites".
