episome

noun

epi·​some ˈe-pə-ˌsōm  -ˌzōm 

: a genetic determinant (such as the DNA of some bacteriophages) that can replicate autonomously in bacterial cytoplasm or as an integral part of the chromosomes

episomal

ˌe-pə-ˈsō-məl  -ˈzō- 

adjective

episomally

ˌe-pə-ˈsō-mə-lē 

-ˈzō-

adverb

Examples of episome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The latent virus may integrate into the human genome – as does HIV, for example – or exist in the nucleus as a self-replicating piece of DNA called an episome. —William Petri, The Conversation, 31 July 2020

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French épisome, from épi- epi- + -some -some entry 3

Note: The term was introduced by the French biologists François Jacob (1920-2013) and Élie Wollman (1917-2008) in "Les épisomes, éléments génétiques ajoutés," Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l'Académie des Sciences, tome 247, première partie (juillet-septembre 1958), séance du 7 juillet 1958, pp. 154-56.

First Known Use

circa 1931, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

episome

noun

epi·​some ˈep-ə-ˌsōm  -ˌzōm 

: a genetic determinant (as the DNA of some bacteriophages) that can replicate either autonomously in bacterial cytoplasm or as an integral part of their chromosomes compare plasmid

episomal

ˌep-ə-ˈsō-məl  -ˈzō- 

adjective

episomally

-mə-lē 

adverb