supercoil
noun
su·per·coil
ˈsü-pər-ˌkȯi(-ə)l 
: a double helix (as of DNA) that has undergone additional twisting in the same direction as or in the opposite direction from the turns in the original helix
supercoil
verb
Examples of supercoil in a Sentence
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In 2008, Levens, the National Cancer Institute biologist, led a team that detected supercoils in human cells, reigniting interest in DNA’s higher-order structure.
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Quanta Magazine, 5 Jan. 2016
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Quanta Magazine, 5 Jan. 2016
Cite this Entry
“Supercoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supercoil. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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supercoil
noun
su·per·coil
ˈsü-pər-ˌkȯi(ə)l
: a double helix (as of DNA) that has undergone additional twisting in the same direction as or in the opposite direction from the turns in the original helix
called also superhelix
supercoil
verb
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