gene

noun

ˈjēn 

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

Examples of gene in a Sentence

She inherited a good set of genes from her parents.

Recent Examples on the Web

Women generally rated the body odors of men whose MHC (major histocompatibility complex) genes differed from their own as more pleasant than those of men with more similar MHC genes. — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Neanderthals and Denisovans left behind fossils — from which scientists could extract DNA — as well as identifiable traces in human genes. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026

The four-time Grand Slam champion has turned heads both on and off the court for her stylish serves through the years and now her mom, Tamaki Osaka, is proving that great taste runs in their genes. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026

AstraZeneca and Ionis will reveal details on why their rival gene-silencing drug, eplontersen, failed a pivotal Phase 3 study. — Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 27 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gene

• gene conversion
• gene editing
• gene flow
• gene frequency
• gene mutation
• gene pool
• gene-splicing
• gene therapy
• lethal gene
• regulator gene
• regulatory gene
• structural gene
• tumor suppressor gene

Rhymes for gene

• bean
• bein
• bien
• bouin
• clean
• deen
• acetylcysteine
• antisubmarine
• dichlorobenzene
• dimethylamine
• diphenylamine
• ethanolamine

Kids Definition

gene

noun

ˈjēn 

: a part of DNA or sometimes RNA that is usually located on a chromosome and that contains chemical information needed to make a particular protein (as an enzyme) controlling or influencing an inherited bodily trait or activity (as eye color or metabolism) or that influences or controls the activity of another gene or genes

Medical Definition

gene

noun

ˈjēn 

: 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