gene

noun \ ˈjēn \

|Updated on: 20 Jun 2018

Definition of gene

plural genes

: 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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See gene defined for kids

Examples of gene in a Sentence

She inherited a good set of genes from her parents.

Recent Examples of gene from the Web

One approach is to look for genes that increase the risk of developing the disease.

— christian holscher, CNN, "New approach to Alzheimer's fight: Diabetes drugs," 15 June 2018
Lately, this misconception has been flamed by the popular DNA genetic testing kit 23andMe, which tests for a gene associated with Alzheimer’s risk.

— mark rudin, idahostatesman, "At Boise State, Idaho’s only Alzheimer’s researchers labor to grasp a growing disease," 14 June 2018
The US Supreme Court unanimously threw out attempts to patent human genes.

— BostonGlobe.com, "This day in history," 13 June 2018
In the past, cases about patenting genes have reached the highest courts.

— ryan p. smith, Smithsonian, "Nearly Half the Patents on Marine Genes Belong to Just One Company," 13 June 2018
The danger with the CRISPR editing tool occurs specifically when CRISPR-Cas9 is used to replace a disease-causing gene with a healthy one.

— Fox News, "Futuristic gene-editing technology may cause cancer," 13 June 2018
In March, the agency gave approval to 23andMe to market a test analyzing whether consumers carry genes that put them at higher risk for breast and ovarian cancer.

— author: stuart leavenworth, Anchorage Daily News, "DNA testing is like the 'Wild West.' Should it be more tightly regulated?," 9 June 2018
But in analyzing the blood of some of the women who delivered prematurely, the team identified seven other genes with RNA signals that seemed to characterize preterm birth.

— pam belluck, The Seattle Times, "Blood test could predict pregnancy due date, potential for preterm birth," 9 June 2018
Like a human has 23 chromosome pairs, a flu virus has eight gene fragments.

— National Geographic, "No, Killer Dog Flu Isn't the Next Human Pandemic," 8 June 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.

Origin and Etymology of gene

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1909

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Genetics Terms

chimera, hermaphrodite, plasticity

GENE Defined for English Language Learners

gene

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

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