cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence

A segment of DNA that can be amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and which contains a DNA sequence polymorphism. Following PCR amplification of a locus, the amplicon is treated with a restriction endonuclease. If the recognition site for this enzyme is present in the amplicon, two or more restriction fragments are generated. Thus sequence variation between individuals at the recognition site(s) can be detected by electrophoresis . See also: restriction fragment length polymorphism.