Noun
replicon (plural replicons)
(genetics) A DNA molecule or a region of DNA that replicates as an individual unit. A replicon may be, for instance, a chromosome, a plasmid or a phage.
Also relevant in determining if the replicon is a chromosome is whether it represents a significant percentage of the genome, and chromosome 2 is 40% by size of the entire genome. Source: Internet
The gene encoding the antigen of interest is inserted into the alphavirus replicon, replacing structural genes but leaving non-structural replicase genes intact. Source: Internet