recombination

IPA/ˌriː.kɒm.bɪˈneɪ.ʃən/
KK[rikˌɑmbɪnˈeʃən]IPA/ˌri.kɑːm.bəˈneɪ.ʃən/

recombination — noun

  • recombinationsingular
  • recombinationsplural

1. the natural process in which DNA from two parents is rearranged during the forma

1.nounC1
Definition

the natural process in which DNA from two parents is rearranged during the formation of egg and sperm cells, so that their offspring inherit a unique combination of genes that was not present in either parent alone

Example

Mrs. Chen explained that recombination happens when chromosomes exchange segments during meiosis.

happens during meiosis when chromosomes exchange segments

Tariq and his brother share the same parents, yet recombination gave each a unique face.

creates differences even between siblings

Common collocations
  • genetic recombination
  • homologous recombination
  • recombination rate
  • recombination event
  • DNA recombination
  • chromosomal recombination
Synonyms
  • crossing over

    A specific physical mechanism of recombination; describes the exchange of segments between paired chromosomes.

  • genetic shuffling

    An informal, simplified way to describe recombination; common in popular science writing.

  • gene mixing

    Very informal; used in introductory-level biology or everyday explanations.

Usage Note

Recombination is a core concept in genetics and biology. It is the biological mechanism that ensures no two individuals (except identical twins) inherit exactly the same genetic makeup. In classrooms and textbooks, it is most often discussed alongside meiosis and heredity. Outside of genetics, the word is rarely used in everyday conversation.

Common Mistakes

The recombination of these two liquids caused a chemical reaction.' (using 'recombination' for non-genetic mixing)
Genetic recombination creates new combinations of DNA during cell division.
In modern English, 'recombination' is almost exclusively a genetics term.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three terms describe the same broad biological phenomenon, but they differ in precision and audience. 'Crossing over' is the most technically precise — it refers specifically to the physical exchange of DNA segments between homologous chromosomes during meiosis prophase I. This is a mechanism that causes recombination, not the whole process itself. 'Genetic shuffling' is a popular-science metaphor that captures the idea of mixing but lacks any reference to the biological machinery behind it; it appears in news articles and documentaries aimed at the general public. 'Gene mixing' is even more informal and can be misleading because it sounds as if individual genes are physically blended like paint. For a learner writing a biology report, 'recombination' is the correct formal term. In an oral presentation to a non-specialist audience, 'genetic shuffling' works better as an explanatory bridge.

crossing overgenetic shufflinggene mixing

Common collocations

Nouns

  • DNA recombination
  • chromosomal recombination
  • homologous recombination

Phrases

  • undergo recombination
  • recombination occurs
  • recombination rate

Prepositions

  • during recombination
  • through recombination
  • by recombination

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The word 'recombination' was formed in the early 20th century within the field of genetics. It combines the prefix 're-' (again) with 'combination' (from Late Latin combinatio, 'a joining together'). The term gained prominence after the rediscovery of Mendel's laws of inheritance and the subsequent development of chromosome theory. Biologists needed a word for the process by which parental traits are reshuffled in offspring — 'recombination' captured the idea of a new combination arising from previously separate elements.

First known use

1903

1903, in the meaning defined above