gene

\ 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 However, Perturb-seq addresses only one type of mutational change, that of stopping a single gene’s transcription. — John Stuelpnagel, Fortune, "An Explosion of Knowledge: Multiplexed Interventional Genomics," 13 Jan. 2020 Whatever is in the Gabbert genes is pretty amazing. — Tommy Hicks, Cincinnati.com, "True freshman quarterback Brett Gabbert has made a name for himself for the Miami RedHawks," 5 Jan. 2020 New thinking in the field is that the three domain model was made using a highly limited dataset—36 genes from 104 taxa—and is too simplistic. — Diana Gitig, Ars Technica, "The tree of life may have only two major branches once again," 17 Dec. 2019 This familial reproduction resulted in two new genes that had the ability to grow in lactose without dying. — Daisy Hernandez, Popular Mechanics, "Good Cheese Exists Today Because of an Old Fruit Fly and Some Sex," 9 Dec. 2019 Because of a bad gene, his body isn’t producing enough of an essential brain protein. — Krista Kafer, The Denver Post, "Kafer: Hope for Colorado kids hangs on gene editing," 5 Dec. 2019 Dogs have a mutation of a gene that, in humans, is linked to extreme gregariousness. — Scott Craven, azcentral, "You know your dog loves you. Now an ASU psychologist says he has scientific proof," 11 Nov. 2019 For example, later Y. pestis strains evolved a gene that allows the bacteria to efficiently infect fleas, the main carriers of the disease in recent times. — Bridget Alex, The Conversation, "Plague was around for millennia before epidemics took hold – and the way people lived might be what protected them," 7 Nov. 2019 Zolgensma was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare and often fatal disease caused by mutations in the SMN1 gene. — Kaleigh Fasanella, Allure, "Why This Life-Saving Drug Costs $2.1 Million, and Why Insurers Won't Cover It," 30 July 2019

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

17 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Gene.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gene. Accessed 18 January 2020.

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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