cistron

cis·tron  (sstrn)

n.

A section of DNA that contains the genetic code for a single polypeptide and functions as a hereditary unit.

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[From cis-trans test, a genetic test (cis- + trans-) + -on.]

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cis·tronic adj.

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cistron [ˈsɪstrən]

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Genetics) Genetics the section of a chromosome that encodes a single polypeptide chain

[from cis-trans; see cis-trans test]

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cistron  (sstrn)

A section of DNA that contains the genetic code for a single polypeptide and functions as a hereditary unit.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

cistron - (genetics) a segment of DNA that is involved in producing a polypeptide chain; it can include regions preceding and following the coding DNA as well as introns between the exons; it is considered a unit of heredity; "genes were formerly called factors" gene, factor dominant gene - gene that produces the same phenotype in the organism whether or not its allele identical; "the dominant gene for brown eyes" allele, allelomorph - (genetics) either of a pair (or series) of alternative forms of a gene that can occupy the same locus on a particular chromosome and that control the same character; "some alleles are dominant over others" genetic marker - a specific gene that produces a recognizable trait and can be used in family or population studies homeotic gene - one the genes that are involved in embryologic development lethal gene - any gene that has an effect that causes the death of the organism at any stage of life linkage group, linked genes - any pair of genes that tend to be transmitted together; "the genes of Drosophila fall into four linkage groups" modifier gene, modifier - a gene that modifies the effect produced by another gene mutant gene - a gene that has changed so that the normal transmission and expression of a trait is affected nonallele - genes that are not competitors at the same locus operator gene - a gene that activates the production of messenger RNA by adjacent structural genes oncogene, transforming gene - a gene that disposes normal cells to change into cancerous tumor cells polygene - a gene that by itself has little effect on the phenotype but which can act together with others to produce observable variations proto-oncogene - a normal gene that has the potential to become an oncogene recessive gene - gene that produces its characteristic phenotype only when its allele is identical; "the recessive gene for blue eyes" regulator gene, regulatory gene - a gene that produces a repressor substance that inhibits an operator gene repressor gene - gene that prevents a nonallele from being transcribed structural gene - a gene that controls the production of a specific protein or peptide suppresser gene, suppressor gene, suppresser, suppressor - a gene that suppresses the phenotypic expression of another gene (especially of a mutant gene) transgene - an exogenous gene introduced into the genome of another organism X-linked gene - a gene located on an X chromosome holandric gene, Y-linked gene - a gene located on a Y chromosome chromosome - a threadlike strand of DNA in the cell nucleus that carries the genes in a linear order; "humans have 22 chromosome pairs plus two sex chromosomes" genetic science, genetics - the branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms molecular biology - the branch of biology that studies the structure and activity of macromolecules essential to life (and especially with their genetic role) sequence - serial arrangement in which things follow in logical order or a recurrent pattern; "the sequence of names was alphabetical"; "he invented a technique to determine the sequence of base pairs in DNA" deoxyribonucleic acid, desoxyribonucleic acid, DNA - (biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associated with the transmission of genetic information; "DNA is the king of molecules"