gene

noun

\ ˈjēn

plural genes

Definition of gene

: a specific sequence of nucleotides in DNA or RNA that is located usually on a chromosome and that is the functional unit of inheritance controlling the transmission and expression of one or more traits by specifying the structure of a particular polypeptide and especially a protein or controlling the function of other genetic material

Examples of gene in a Sentence

She inherited a good set of genes from her parents.

Recent Examples on the Web The test uses a gene-editing tool known as CRISPR to analyze a sample and deliver results within 30 minutes. — Evan Macdonald, cleveland, "World leaders call for pandemic treaty; test could detect COVID-19 mutations: Coronavirus update for March 31, 2021," 31 Mar. 2021 An exploration of how Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna helped launched the gene-editing revolution. — The California Independent Booksellers Alliance, Los Angeles Times, "Bestsellers List Sunday, March 28, 2021," 24 Mar. 2021 In the wake of this dream, Doudna began to organize policy discussions about what restraints scientists should place on gene-editing experiments in humans. — Lila Thulin, Smithsonian Magazine, "How Scientist Jennifer Doudna Is Leading the Next Technological Revolution," 9 Mar. 2021 The routine modification of human DNA with gene-editing tools seems just around the corner. — David A. Shaywitz, WSJ, "‘The Genome Odyssey’ Review: From Code to Clinic," 24 Feb. 2021 Some forms of gene therapy and gene-editing require a patient’s cells to be removed and reinserted into the body. — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, "Boston biotech Ensoma lands $70m in funding, partnership with Takeda," 11 Feb. 2021 And having more Cas9 options could potentially help researchers circumvent immune responses to some gene-editing therapies. — Niko Mccarty, Scientific American, "Newly Studied Proteins Expand CRISPR's Editing Range," 26 Jan. 2021 In 2017, a team led by Harris Wang, a systems biologist at Columbia University, used the CRISPR gene-editing system to recognize a biological signal, such as the presence of the sugar fructose. — Robert F. Service, Science | AAAS, "Scientists ‘program’ living bacteria to store data," 11 Jan. 2021 One compared gene-expression patterns between young and old individuals of six species of ants, bees, and termites, for example. — Yao-hua Law, Science | AAAS, "What can ants, bees, and other social insects teach us about aging?," 25 Mar. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gene.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

9 Apr 2021

Cite this Entry

“Gene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gene. Accessed 12 Apr. 2021.

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More Definitions for gene

gene

noun

English Language Learners Definition of gene

biology : a part of a cell that controls or influences the appearance, growth, etc., of a living thing

See the full definition for gene in the English Language Learners Dictionary

gene

noun

\ ˈjēn

Kids Definition of gene

: a unit of DNA that is usually located on a chromosome and that controls the development of one or more traits and is the basic unit by which genetic information is passed from parent to offspring

gene

noun

\ ˈjēn