gene

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noun \ˈjēn\

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

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Examples of gene in a Sentence

She inherited a good set of genes from her parents.

Recent Examples of gene from the Web

Perhaps the superior genes contained within these species have already found their way off Borneo and into modern mangos.

— noris ledesma, miamiherald, "Taming the wild mango", 22 June 2017
Researchers now have a more complete picture of how fused, garbled, or incomplete genes can cause malignant cells to grow at multiple sites in the body.

— anna edney, Bloomberg.com, "FDA to Clear Path for Drugs Aimed at Cancer-Causing Genes", 20 June 2017
But this nonsensical spectacle — which features what look like dancing sperm cells — is also a funny and audacious metaphor: In the gene pool of ideas, some may well prove fertile.

— pat padua, star-telegram.com, "Cate Blanchett delivers a stirring ‘Manifesto’", 19 June 2017
The selective activation or repression of genes allows an individual cell to acquire its identity and to perform its function.

— anya groner, Longreads, "Twinless in Twinsburg", 9 June 2017
Today, there are promising gene and protein therapies on the horizon, but these are still in clinical trials.

— ellen mccarthy, chicagotribune.com, "A little girl's butterfly skin and 'the worst disease you've never heard of'", 31 May 2017
Gene silencing appears to be the most promising treatment on the horizon.

— bob young, The Seattle Times, "Huntington’s disease is going to kill him, but this Bellingham scientist is tackling it head-on", 30 May 2017
Patients in the study have Dravet (drah-VAY) syndrome , a type of epilepsy usually caused by a faulty gene.

— Washington Post, "Marijuana extract helps some kids with epilepsy, study says", 25 May 2017
Clerks have co-existed with chimney sweeps and gene splicers.

— simon akam, Bloomberg.com, "The Exquisitely English (and Amazingly Lucrative) World of London Clerks", 23 May 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of gene

German Gen, short for Pangen, from pan- + -gen

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First Known Use: 1909

See Words from the same year

Other Genetics Terms

chimera, hermaphrodite, plasticity

GENE Defined for English Language Learners

gene

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noun

Definition of gene for English Language Learners

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

GENE Defined for Kids

gene

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noun \ˈjēn\

Definition of gene for Students

: 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

Medical Dictionary

gene

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noun \ˈjēn\

Medical 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—called also determinant, determiner, factor