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​Deletion

updated: March 18, 2024

Definition

A deletion, as related to genomics, is a type of mutation that involves the loss of one or more nucleotides from a segment of DNA. A deletion can involve the loss of any number of nucleotides, from a single nucleotide to an entire piece of a chromosome.

 Deletion


Narration

Deletion. Deletion mutations are actually the cause for a large number of genetic diseases, such as two-thirds of cystic fibrosis cases and the cat cry syndrome, which is so-called because children with this syndrome often have a cry that sounds similar to a cat meowing.

Prabarna Ganguly
Prabarna Ganguly, Ph.D.

Chief Communications Officer

Nucleus Genomics