tandem repeat

noun

: any of several identical DNA segments lying one after the other in a sequence

Examples of tandem repeat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The human dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) gene contains a 48-bp variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) in exon 3, encoding the third intracellular loop of this dopamine receptor. —Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 9 Mar. 2012

Scientists began by testing the short tandem repeat (STR) markers on the nuclear DNA. —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 15 Apr. 2022

Instead of sequencing whole genes as cutting-edge academic research labs often do, forensics labs look for something called short tandem repeats (STR). —Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

tandem repeat

noun

tan·​dem repeat ˈtan-dəm- 

: any of several identical DNA segments lying one after the other in a sequence

Although certain of these repetitive sequences are scattered throughout the DNA, others are reiterated many times in a row, so that they resemble the DNA equivalent of a stutter. These tandem repeats are usually found in critical regions, notably in the centromere …

—Robert K. Moyzis, Scientific American

The DNA fingerprint technique is based on the existence of regions of DNA that are made up of tandem repeats …

—Roger Levin, Science

compare long terminal repeat