recombine

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to put separated or analyzed parts together again, sometimes in a new arrangement

   The model can recombine the separate observations into a coherent account.

2. 2
   verb

   genetics: to create a new arrangement of genetic material by exchanging or joining DNA segments

   Scientists can recombine DNA from different sources to study how a gene functions.

3. 3
   verb

   genetics: for genetic material to undergo recombination

   During meiosis, matching chromosomes recombine and exchange segments of DNA.

Formed from re- ("again") + combine. Combine entered English through Old French combiner and Late Latin combinare ("to unite or yoke together"), from com- ("together") + bini ("two by two"). Biology later specialized recombine for new arrangements of genetic material.

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