3. plectonemic

a metaphor for love, perhaps?

~Livy, 1 March 2022

definition

plectonemic [/ˌplɛktə(ʊ)ˈniːmɪk/]

adjective. when two DNA strands coil around each other so strongly such that separating them would require actively breaking bonds to unwind the strands

handwritten

extended definition

• descriptive of when two DNA strands interact by coiling round each other in a helix, where separating them requires forcefully breaking the structure or nicking a strand (i.e. the interaction is strong and separating them is not easy)
• vs. paranemic coiling, when two DNA strands interact more weakly and can be separated relatively easily, without breaking bonds

etymology

[Prefix plecto-] Latin plecto, plectere “to weave, braid, twine”; cognate with Greek pleko (πλεκω) “plait, weave”

notes

• the author is not a biology expert; the meanings above were extracted from the overlapping information of multiple [hopefully reliable] Google and Google Scholar search results (see references below)
• if you have domain knowledge on the subject and would like to add or correct something, leave a comment!

~~~

references

• definitions of plectonemic: Genscript, LEXICO, Oxford Reference
• research on plectonemic vs. paranemic: Quora, Aakash Institute, PubMed paper (Yagil, 1991)
• etymology (word origin information) from Wiktionary (plecto-)

Read more from WonDered WorDs