repetitive DNA

1. Stretches of DNA that repeat themselves throughout a genome, either in tandem or interspersed along the genome. These stretches can comprise up to fifty percent or more of an organism's DNA. It can code for an end product, perhaps a certain enzyme that is needed in large numbers; it can have a structural function (such as a telomere); or it can comprise sequences with no known function.

Example Sentences

Rather, they were investigating what role repetitive DNA sequences played in the evolution of plants with exceptionally large genomes.

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Knowing ferns often have notably long stretches of repetitive DNA, the team turned to the fork fern for analysis.

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Telomeres are regions of repetitive DNA sequences that protect the ends of chromosomes from becoming frayed or tangled.

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By comparing DNA from affected and unaffected people from several Utah families, they found that in SCA4 patients, a section in a gene called ZFHX3 is much longer than it should be, containing an extra-long string of repetitive DNA.

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The markers in question are telomeres, which are sections of repetitive DNA found at each end of a chromosome that serve to protect the ends of the chromosomes from damage.

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