Definition

A unit of measurement in genetics that represents a length of chromosome where a crossover event occurs, specifically equivalent to one hundredth of a morgan.

Example

The researchers measured the genetic distance in centimorgans to understand the inheritance patterns.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a centimorgan?

I think I saw it mentioned in a genetics article once.

Yeah, it’s a unit used to measure genetic linkage.

That makes sense — I guess it's important for understanding heredity.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Centimorgan is formed from "centi-" (meaning one hundredth) and "Morgan" (after the American geneticist Thomas Hunt Morgan, who contributed to the field of genetics). The term refers to a unit of genetic linkage that represents one hundredth of a map unit, named in honor of Morgan's work in genetics.

Memory Tip

Think of 'centi-' meaning one hundredth, and remember that a 'centimorgan' is a unit that measures genetic distance, specifically one hundredth of a map unit.

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