recombinant

adjective

re·​com·​bi·​nant (ˌ)rē-ˈkäm-bə-nənt 

1

: relating to or exhibiting genetic recombination

recombinant progeny

2

a

: relating to or containing genetically engineered DNA

b

: produced by genetic engineering

recombinant bovine growth hormone

recombinant noun

Examples of recombinant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The generation that the Space Race inspired went on to become the scientists, mathematicians, and engineers who eradicated smallpox, built the personal computer, created the first recombinant DNA molecule, drew attention to climate change, and put the global community on a path toward a solution. —Reynold Verret, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2024

Risk of recombination Questions have swirled about whether or not bird flu and seasonal influenza could form a recombinant virus, meaning a combination of the two. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 23 Nov. 2024

For most pathogens, this approach has long since been supplanted by a technology called recombinant protein vaccines, where a single piece of the virus—a viral protein—is grown in a laboratory. —Stephen Buranyi, WIRED, 2 Oct. 2023

In 1984, preliminary work in laboratory animals showed the promise of using an oral form of the recombinant vaccine to vaccinate animals. —Discover Magazine, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing recombinant

• recombinant DNA

Medical Definition

recombinant

1 of 2 adjective

re·​com·​bi·​nant (ˈ)rē-ˈkäm-bə-nənt 

1

: relating to or exhibiting genetic recombination

recombinant progeny

2

a

: relating to or containing genetically engineered DNA

b

: produced by genetic engineering

recombinant bovine growth hormone

recombinant

2 of 2 noun

: an individual exhibiting recombination