Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🔄 New arrangement 🧬 Gene mixing
reassortment

reassortment

8.5
The mixing of genes from different viruses to create new virus types
  • noun
  • /ˌriːəˈsɔːrtmənt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : reasortamiento
  • Recombination and reassortment events facilitate virus adaptation in the new host.
  • virus reassortment
  • reassortment event

These viruses are all reassortments of different viruses from pigs and birds and humans.

Examples

  • The genes of these viruses undergo reassortment, producing new virus variants that can infect different species.

  • These viruses are all reassortments of different viruses from pigs and birds and humans.

    Lex Fridman

  • The difference in sequence homology between segments of the virus strains suggested reassortment events.

    Academic text (2012)

  • The difference in clustering based on the S1-S4 segments alone provides evidence for virus reassortment.

    Academic text (2012)

  • In addition, the segmented nature of the virus genome also facilitates virus reassortment, which leads to virus diversity.

    Academic text (2012)

  • From 1998 to 2001, the virus went through multiple reassortments and moved back to domestic birds, spreading almost unnoticed in Chinese chicken flocks.

    Academic text (2005)

  • Sequencing studies indicate that reassortment in nature is a major determinant of reovirus evolution (1, 2).

    Academic text (2012)

  • Isolation of closely related orthoreoviruses within a short time in the region illustrates the genetic diversity of the virus and that reassortment events are not uncommon.

    Academic text (2012)

  • The genes of these viruses undergo reassortment, producing new virus variants, including those with the potential to cause epidemics in other animals, like minks, seals, swine, and humans.

    Academic text (2005)

  • In nature, reassortment of viral genetic material is crucial for the emergence of new strains that can evade immunity.

Synonyms

recombination
vsreassortment
  • Specialized
3 7.9

Mixing of parents' genes to make offspring with new trait combinations

is specific to mixing distinct genetic sources rather than general genetic reshuffling
hybridization
vsreassortment
1 5.5

Combining different things like ideas or styles to make something new

is narrower, about genetic mixing between distinct sources often in viruses

Antonyms

stabilization
  • US
28 3.9

Making something steady so it is less likely to change

How Mixed

reassortment
  • Specialized
8.5
recombination
  • Specialized
3 7.9
mixing
51 1.8
shuffling
1 3.0

Surface Forms

reassortment singular
reassortments plural

Morphology

reassortment = reassort (semi-transparent) = re + assort + ment

Morphologically regular formation (reassort + -ment) where the noun names the process of reassorting.

Etymology

Reassortment comes from re- meaning 'again' and assort meaning 'to arrange' or 'sort'. A helpful image is 'shuffling cards': when viruses swap pieces of their genes, a reassortment makes new mixes of genes, which is why new strains can appear.