conserved sequence

A Dictionary of Biology | 2004 | 700+ words | Copyright

conserved sequence Any sequences of bases (or amino acids) in comparable segments of different nucleotides (or proteins) that tends to show similarity greater than that due to chance alone. For example, if one position is occupied by the same base in all comparable DNA sequences, then that position is said to be completely conserved. If the same base occurs at a given position in, say, 75% of samples examined, it would be described as partially conserved. By extension, the conservation of other positions in a sequence is assessed in the same way, usually by computer analysis. The degree to which sequences are conserved can indicate the extent of structural and functional similarities between different genes or between different proteins and provides clues to their possible evolutionary relations (see homologous).

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"conserved sequence." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"conserved sequence." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-conservedsequence.html

"conserved sequence." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-conservedsequence.html

Learn more about citation styles