restriction enzyme

Definitions of restriction enzyme

1. noun

   any of the enzymes that cut nucleic acid at specific restriction sites and produce restriction fragments; obtained from bacteria (where they cripple viral invaders); used in recombinant DNA technology
   synonyms: restriction endonuclease, restriction nuclease

   type of:

   endonuclease

   a nuclease that cleaves nucleic acids at interior bonds and so produces fragments of various sizes