restriction enzyme

noun Biochemistry.

any of a group of enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of DNA molecules at specific sites: used for gene splicing in recombinant DNA technology and for chromosome mapping.

Origin of restriction enzyme

First recorded in 1960–65

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British Dictionary definitions for restriction enzyme

restriction enzyme

noun

any of several enzymes produced by bacteria as a defence against viral infection and commonly used to cut DNA for genetic manipulation or diagnosis

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

restriction enzyme in Medicine

restriction enzyme

[rĭ-strĭk′shən]

n.

Any of a group of enzymes that cleave DNA at specific sites to produce discrete fragments, used especially in gene-splicing.restriction endonuclease