replicon

noun

rep·​li·​con ˈre-pli-ˌkän 

: a linear or circular section of DNA or RNA which replicates sequentially as a unit

Examples of replicon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The 3 prime messenger RNAs are made from subgenomic fragments, each of which serves as a separate replicon, resembling mini-genomes. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2021

Each subgenomic replicon serves as a template to produce positive-strand messenger RNAs via a process akin to the production of full-length genomic RNA (Figure 4). —William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2021

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French réplicon, from réplication replication + -on -on entry 2

Note: The term was introduced by the French biologist François Jacob and the South African biologist Sydney Brenner in "Sur la régulation de la synthèse du DNA chez les bactéries: l'hypothèse du réplicon," Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l'Académie des Sciences, tome 256^me, première partie, janvier-février 1963 (séance de 2 janvier 1963), pp. 298-300.

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

replicon

noun

rep·​li·​con ˈrep-li-ˌkän 

: a linear or circular section of DNA or RNA which replicates sequentially as a unit