Hypervariable

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Hypervariable

Hypervariable (pronunciation: /ˌhaɪpərˈveəriəbəl/) is a term used in genetics and molecular biology to describe regions of DNA or protein sequences that exhibit a high degree of sequence variation among individuals or species.

Etymology

The term "hypervariable" is derived from the prefix "hyper-" meaning "over" or "excessive", and "variable" meaning "liable to vary or change". It was first used in the context of genetics and molecular biology in the late 20th century.

Definition

In genetics, hypervariable regions are portions of the DNA sequence that mutate at a faster rate than other regions. These regions are often used in genetic fingerprinting and phylogenetics, as they can provide valuable information about genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships.

In molecular biology, hypervariable regions refer to areas of proteins, particularly antibodies, that have a high degree of variability. This allows the immune system to recognize a wide range of foreign substances.

Related Terms

  • Variable number tandem repeat (VNTR): A type of genetic marker that is characterized by a sequence of DNA that is repeated in a head-to-tail manner. VNTRs are often found in hypervariable regions.
  • Microsatellite: A type of hypervariable DNA sequence that consists of a short, repeated sequence of nucleotides.
  • Minisatellite: A type of DNA sequence that is longer than a microsatellite and is also often found in hypervariable regions.
  • Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP): A variation in a single nucleotide that occurs at a specific position in the genome. SNPs can occur in hypervariable regions.

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