polymerase

noun

po·​ly·​mer·​ase pə-ˈli-mə-rās  ˈpä-lə-mə-ˌrās 

-ˌrāz

: any of several enzymes that catalyze the formation of DNA or RNA from precursor substances in the presence of preexisting DNA or RNA acting as a template compare dna polymerase, rna polymerase

Examples of polymerase in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The polymerase therefore copies an incomplete genome more quickly than a complete one. —Quanta Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024

While polymerase chase reaction, or PCR, COVID tests are more accurate that rapid antigen tests, they must be administered by a skilled laboratory technician, require special equipment and take up to an hour or more to process. —Angela Roberts, Baltimore Sun, 14 Feb. 2024

But the biggest surprise was that the viruses had a polymerase enzyme dedicated to pairing Z bases with T’s during DNA replication. —Quanta Magazine, 12 July 2021

Approximately 4 million people with active hepatitis C were identified and treated with the antiviral medication Sovaldi (sofosbuvir), a nucleotide analogue that inhibits the polymerase enzyme of hepatitis C and blocks its replication, effectively eliminating hepatitis C from Egypt. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing polymerase

• DNA polymerase
• polymerase chain reaction
• RNA polymerase

Rhymes for polymerase

• aromatase
• hydrogenase
• nitrogenase
• oligoclase
• oxygenase
• plagioclase
• streptokinase
• triphosphatase
• abase
• airspace
• apace
• backspace

Medical Definition

polymerase

noun

po·​ly·​mer·​ase pə-ˈlim-ər-ās; ˈpä-lə-mə-ˌrās, -ˌrāz 

: any of several enzymes that catalyze the formation of DNA or RNA from precursor substances in the presence of preexisting DNA or RNA acting as a template