What does transversion mean?
A transversion is a specific type of genetic mutation in which a purine base is replaced by a pyrimidine base, or a pyrimidine base is replaced by a purine base. The term is used in genetics, molecular biology, genomics, and medical research, where researchers use it to describe particular substitutions in DNA. It is distinct from a transition, in which one purine is replaced by another purine or one pyrimidine by another pyrimidine, and from a transposition, which moves a DNA segment rather than changing the identity of a base. Although the word may sound like a general synonym for reversal or crossing over, its established meaning is highly technical. Knowing the distinction helps readers interpret mutation studies, clinical reports, and discussions of genetic variation accurately.
nounIn genetics, a transversion is a mutation in which a purine base is replaced by a pyrimidine base, or a pyrimidine base is replaced by a purine base.
- A genetic mutation in which a purine nucleotide base is replaced by a pyrimidine base, or vice versa.
"The researchers identified a transversion in the gene, replacing adenine with thymine."
"The sequencing data revealed a transversion in which guanine had been replaced by cytosine."
"This particular transversion is associated with a rare form of the disorder."
The standard plural is transversions; the singular form is also commonly used attributively, as in “transversion mutation.”
"Several transversions were found in the affected region of the gene."
A transversion is a molecular switch between the purine and pyrimidine families, turning one kind of DNA building block into the other.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of transversion
The word is formed within the Latin-derived vocabulary of scientific terminology, combining the prefix trans- with version and ultimately drawing on Latin vertere, meaning “to turn.” In its genetic sense, transversion was developed to identify a base substitution that transfers a nucleotide from one chemical class to the other. Its relatives include conversion, inversion, reversion, and transverse, all associated with the same broad tradition of turning, changing direction, or reversing.
How transversion is actually used
Technical, especially in genetics, molecular biology, and related medical research. It should not be used as a general term for any DNA mutation, because substitutions within the purine or pyrimidine class are distinguished as transitions.
Easily confused with transversion
A transversion exchanges a purine with a pyrimidine, whereas a transition exchanges two bases from the same chemical class.
A transversion is a change in the chemical identity of a nucleotide base, whereas a transposition moves a segment of DNA to another location.