polymerase

American  

[pol-uh-muh-reys, -reyz] / ˈpɒl ə məˌreɪs, -ˌreɪz /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. any of several enzymes that catalyze the formation of a long-chain molecule by linking smaller molecular units, as nucleotides with nucleic acids.

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polymerase British  

/ pəˈlɪməreɪz /

noun

1. any enzyme that catalyses the synthesis of a polymer, esp the synthesis of DNA or RNA

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polymerase Scientific  

/ pə-lĭm′ə-rās′,pŏl′ə-mə-rās′ /

1. Any of various enzymes, such as DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase, or reverse transcriptase, that catalyze the formation of sequences of DNA or RNA using an existing strand of DNA or RNA as a template.

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Etymology

Origin of polymerase

First recorded in 1955–60; polymer + -ase

Example Sentences

The researchers showed that two full 3CD molecules, each carrying its own RNA polymerase, bind side by side on the viral RNA.

From Science Daily • May 13, 2026

The reason for this is that the tests most commonly used — polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, tests — are designed to detect genetic material from a specific organism, such as a flu virus.

From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2024

However, in the current scenario, the emerging bovine H5N1 strain that has infected American dairy cattle has undergone a specific adaptation in an enzyme called polymerase.

From Salon • Apr. 18, 2024

An onboard polymerase chain reaction machine will allow them to quickly detect H5N1’s genetic fingerprint in cloacal swabs and other samples, helping them map infections.

From Science Magazine • Mar. 18, 2024

Once the unwinding is under way, a remarkable enzyme called DNA polymerase helps ensure that the copying works almost perfectly.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan