Definition

A very small satellite or a short segment of DNA that has repeating units of a few base pairs and varies among individuals.

Example

Researchers studied the microsatellites in the DNA to understand genetic diversity.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a microsatellite?

Yeah, I think it has something to do with DNA, right?

Exactly! They consist of short repeated sequences in the genome.

That's pretty cool; I didn't realize they were so important for genetic variation.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Microsatellite → It is formed from "micro-" (from Greek "mikros", meaning small) and "satellite" (from Latin "satellitem", meaning an attendant or a body that orbits). The word "microsatellite" refers to a small satellite, often used in genetics to describe short, repeating sequences of DNA that are found in the genome.

Memory Tip

Think of 'small' ('micro-') and 'attendant' ('satellite') to remember that a microsatellite is a small repeating unit in DNA.

Visually Confused Words