gene

/dʒin/

/dʒin/

Other forms: genes

Microscopic, yet powerful, a gene is segment of DNA, the molecule that stores the code for building living bodies.

A gene is a single unit of genetic information, stored on twisting strands in every cell of every living being. In sexual reproduction, the parents' genes mix together to make the child. Although people would like to think that genes code for discrete traits, like friendliness or mathematical genius, that's not the case. Genes control the color of your eyes and the shape of your toes, not your weird personality.

Definitions of gene

1. noun

   (genetics) a segment of DNA that is involved in producing a polypeptide chain; it can include regions preceding and following the coding DNA as well as introns between the exons; it is considered a unit of heredity
   synonyms: cistron, factor

   types:

   dominant gene

   gene that produces the same phenotype in the organism whether or not its allele identical

   allele, allelomorph

   (genetics) either of a pair (or series) of alternative forms of a gene that can occupy the same locus on a particular chromosome and that control the same character

   genetic marker

   a specific gene that produces a recognizable trait and can be used in family or population studies

   homeotic gene

   one the genes that are involved in embryologic development

   lethal gene

   any gene that has an effect that causes the death of the organism at any stage of life

   linkage group, linked genes

   any pair of genes that tend to be transmitted together

   modifier, modifier gene

   a gene that modifies the effect produced by another gene

   mutant gene

   a gene that has changed so that the normal transmission and expression of a trait is affected

   nonallele

   genes that are not competitors at the same locus

   operator gene

   a gene that activates the production of messenger RNA by adjacent structural genes

   oncogene, transforming gene

   a gene that disposes normal cells to change into cancerous tumor cells

   polygene

   a gene that by itself has little effect on the phenotype but which can act together with others to produce observable variations

   proto-oncogene

   a normal gene that has the potential to become an oncogene

   recessive gene

   gene that produces its characteristic phenotype only when its allele is identical

   regulator gene, regulatory gene

   a gene that produces a repressor substance that inhibits an operator gene

   repressor gene

   gene that prevents a nonallele from being transcribed

   structural gene

   a gene that controls the production of a specific protein or peptide

   suppresser, suppresser gene, suppressor, suppressor gene

   a gene that suppresses the phenotypic expression of another gene (especially of a mutant gene)

   transgene

   an exogenous gene introduced into the genome of another organism

   X-linked gene

   a gene located on an X chromosome

   Y-linked gene, holandric gene

   a gene located on a Y chromosome

   dominant, dominant allele

   an allele that produces the same phenotype whether its paired allele is identical or different

   recessive, recessive allele

   an allele that produces its characteristic phenotype only when its paired allele is identical

   homeobox, homeobox gene

   one of various similar homeotic genes that are involved in bodily segmentation during embryonic development

   CFTR, cystic fibrosis transport regulator

   the gene that is mutated in cystic fibrosis

   tumor suppressor gene

   a suppressor gene that blocks unscheduled cell division

   type of:

   sequence

   serial arrangement in which things follow in logical order or a recurrent pattern