MULTIGENE FAMILY Meaning and
Definition
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A multigene family, in genetics and molecular biology, refers to a collection of closely related genes or gene sequences that have evolved through duplication events over time. These genes often share a common ancestral gene and contain similar coding regions or perform similar functions. As a result of gene duplication events, these genes may have diverged from each other slightly, leading to variations in their sequences and functions.
Multigene families are commonly found in many organisms, including bacteria, plants, and animals, and are considered a fundamental mechanism for gene evolution and genetic diversity. They can be categorized into different types based on their evolutionary relationships and functions. For instance, some multigene families arise through tandem gene duplication, where multiple copies of the gene are located in close proximity on a single chromosome. Other multigene families arise from retrotransposition, where the gene is duplicated through reverse transcription and integration of a mRNA copy into a new genomic location.
The presence of multiple copies of these genes within a genome allows for functional redundancy, where one gene can compensate for the loss or mutation of another gene. This redundancy provides an evolutionary advantage as it can increase the adaptability and robustness of an organism to different environmental conditions and stressors. Multigene families also play essential roles in various biological processes, such as immune responses, development, and signal transduction pathways.
Studying multigene families is important in understanding the complexity of gene regulation, evolutionary relationships, and the functional diversity of genes within an organism's genome.
Common Misspellings for MULTIGENE FAMILY
- nultigene family
- kultigene family
- jultigene family
- myltigene family
- mhltigene family
- mjltigene family
- miltigene family
- m8ltigene family
- m7ltigene family
- muktigene family
- muptigene family
- muotigene family
- mulrigene family
- mulfigene family
- mulgigene family
- mulyigene family
- mul6igene family
- mul5igene family
- multugene family
- multjgene family
Etymology of MULTIGENE FAMILY
The term "multigene family" is a compound term comprised of the words "multi" and "gene" along with the word "family". Each element in this compound term has its own etymology.
1. Multi-: The prefix "multi-" comes from the Latin word "multus", meaning "many" or "much". It is used to indicate plurality or abundance in English words. For example, "multiple" or "multiply" are derived from the same root.
2. Gene: The term "gene" is derived from the German word "Gen", coined by the Danish scientist Wilhelm Johannsen in 1909. Johannsen used this term to describe the discrete units responsible for the transmission of hereditary traits that he observed while studying heredity in plants.
3. Family: The word "family" comes from the Latin word "familia", meaning "household" or "family".
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