Dictionary.com

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.

QUIZZES

DISCOVER THE INFLUENCE OF PORTUGUESE ON ENGLISH VIA THIS QUIZ!

We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?
Question 1 of 11
Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?
owl
crow
piranha
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of restriction enzyme

First recorded in 1960–65

Words nearby restriction enzyme

restricted class, restricted code, restricted stock, restricted users group, restriction, restriction enzyme, restriction enzymes, restriction fragment, restriction fragment length polymorphism, restrictionism, restriction play
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

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

Medical definitions for restriction enzyme

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
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.