Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

polycistronic

Adjective

/ˌpɒliˈsɪtrɒnɪk/

Definition

Referring to a type of messenger RNA (mRNA) that can encode multiple proteins within a single transcript.

Examples

In prokaryotic organisms, genes are often organized in polycistronic operons.
The polycistronic nature of some mRNA allows for efficient regulation of gene expression.

Meaning

In genetics, polycistronic mRNA carries the information to produce more than one type of protein from a single RNA molecule, which is commonly seen in prokaryotes.