Cistron
Cistron
Cistron (/ˈsɪstrɒn/) is a term in genetics that refers to the segment of DNA that codes for a single polypeptide chain. It is synonymous with the term "gene" in the classical sense, but is used to emphasize the functional unit of heredity.
Etymology
The term "cistron" was coined in 1957 by Seymour Benzer, an American physicist and molecular biologist. It is derived from the Greek word "kistron", meaning "box" or "compartment", reflecting the idea that each cistron is a distinct unit of genetic information.
Definition
A cistron is defined as the smallest unit of genetic material that, under the right conditions, can give rise to a polypeptide. This includes not only the coding sequence that directly specifies the amino acid sequence, but also regulatory sequences that influence the expression of the cistron.
Related Terms
- Gene: A gene is a sequence of nucleotides in DNA or RNA that codes for a molecule that has a function. The cistron is a concept that is equivalent to the classical definition of a gene.
- Polypeptide: A polypeptide is a single linear chain of amino acids that is coded for by a cistron.
- DNA: DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the molecule that carries the genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of all known organisms and many viruses. A cistron is a segment of DNA.
- RNA: RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is a polymeric molecule essential in various biological roles in coding, decoding, regulation and expression of genes. RNA and DNA are nucleic acids.
- Nucleotide: Nucleotides are organic molecules that serve as the monomers, or subunits, of nucleic acids like DNA and RNA.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cistron
- Wikipedia's article - Cistron
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