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

After six months, researchers will repeat a biopsy to evaluate whether the training lowers the expression of genes in the normal breast tissue that are known to promote breast cancer. — Laura Landro, WSJ, "A New Push to Lower Your Risk for Breast Cancer," 3 Oct. 2018 His research on mice revealed that over the course of a day, hundreds of liver genes turn on and off cyclically. — The Washington Post, NOLA.com, "Timing your meals may help with weight loss -- it seems to do so in mice," 27 Mar. 2018 To counter this trend, the FDA is weighing whether to approve dementia drugs based on their effect on biomarkers: signatures of genes or proteins that imply the presence and severity of a disease. — The Economist, "FDA wants to help unproductive drugmakers," 22 Mar. 2018 The books take place in a future America where gene-hacking is a consumer technology. — Devon Maloney, The Verge, "I want to buy this YA trilogy about gene-hacking for every teen I know," 11 Nov. 2018 Light regulates a whole host of biological processes, including hormones and neurotransmitters and even when genes turn on and off. — Jacqueline Detwiler, Popular Mechanics, "Tis the Season To Get Yourself a Lightbox," 24 Oct. 2018 Experts have yet to pinpoint which genes may be involved here and to what extent. — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "14 Facts About Bipolar Disorder That Everyone Should Know," 27 Sep. 2018 In nature, cells do this by turning on different genes at different times under different conditions. — Eric Smalley, Discover Magazine, "Cellular Cyborgs: How Programmable DNA Strands Might Control Healing," 25 Sep. 2018 Mutations that disable this gene greatly raise the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. — Fox News, "Lab test may identify dangerous gene mutations, study finds," 12 Sep. 2018

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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5 Dec 2018

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Time Traveler for gene

The first known use of gene was in 1909

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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