trinucleotide

[trahy-noo-klee-uh-tahyd, -nyoo-]

noun

Genetics.

1. three linked nucleotides; triplet.

Word History and Origins

Origin of trinucleotide¹

First recorded in 1915–20; tri- + nucleotide

Example Sentences

For example, large expansions of repeats of the trinucleotide CAG in the coding sequence of the gene ATXN2 cause spinocerebellar ataxia type 2, in which motor weakness is sometimes an early presentation.

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The findings explain how the trinucleotide repeat expansion causes RNA-directed gene silencing during development in fragile X syndrome.

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This trinucleotide motif overlaps the canonical splice acceptor site, possibly accounting for the excess of splice site mutations observed in these tumors.

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Additionally, separation of mate-pair reads by haplotype may also help to detect expanded trinucleotide repeats in diseases such as Huntington’s disease, even though LFR does not provide direct length measure of these or similar repeats.

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Often, later generations suffer worse than earlier ones because of a genetic mechanism known as trinucleotide repeat expansion.

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