repeat unit
A 'repeat unit' is a fundamental concept in chemistry, genetics, and materials science, describing the smallest repeating structure within larger molecular or crystalline formations.
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Definition
C1Polymer Chemistry
(technical, academic)A specific arrangement of atoms that repeats within a macromolecule to form a polymer chain.
Example
- The repeat unit of polyethylene is -CH2-CH2-.
C1Molecular Biology
(technical, academic)A sequence of nucleotides or amino acids that is repeated in a nucleic acid or protein molecule.
Example
- Microsatellites are composed of short repeat units of DNA.
C1Materials Science
(technical, academic)The smallest structural unit in a crystalline material that repeats to form the entire crystal lattice.
Example
- The repeat unit in a diamond crystal is a tetrahedron of carbon atoms.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "repeat unit":
construction unitbase unitpower unitlexical unitderived unitpolitical unitparental unitbuilding block