restriction enzyme

noun

: any of various enzymes that cleave DNA into fragments at specific sites in the interior of the molecule

called also restriction endonuclease

Examples of restriction enzyme in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Crichton goes on to re-create the display of a Cray X-MP supercomputer, which identifies a DNA error that will be repaired with restriction enzymes. — Cal Newport, The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2025

Some microbes defend themselves from invasion by using molecules known as restriction enzymes. — Quanta Magazine, 6 Feb. 2015

Word History

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for restriction enzyme

• aforetime
• allozyme
• anytime
• christmastime
• cybercrime
• dinnertime
• guggenheim
• isozyme
• lysozyme
• maritime
• mesenchyme
• overtime

Medical Definition

restriction enzyme

noun

: any of various enzymes that cleave DNA into fragments at specific sites in the interior of the molecule and are often used as tools in molecular analysis