replicon
nounEtymology From replic(ate) + -on.
1
Biology, Genetics, Medicine, Natural sciences, Sciences A DNA molecule or a region of DNA that replicates as an individual unit. A replicon may be, for instance, a chromosome, a plasmid or a phage.
- During cell division there is a probability that either or both of the master replicons will misreplicate and one of the daughter cells will be missing a master copy.1970, Michael Abercrombie, Jean Brachet, Thomas Joseph King, Advances in Morphogenesis - Volume 8, page 177:
- Derived terms
- interreplicon, minireplicon, multireplicon