supergene
noun
su·per·gene
ˈsü-pər-ˌjēn 
: a group of linked genes acting as an allelic unit especially when due to the suppression of crossing-over
Examples of supergene in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sometime in history, one of those ants had experienced a mutation that replaced the supergene on one chromosome with a copy of the supergene from the other chromosome.
—
Viviane Callier, Quanta Magazine, 8 May 2023
Researchers still have much to learn about how that supergene controls so many features — not just color, but also wing shape, and even behaviors like flight speed.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 1 Feb. 2022
If parent butterflies have differing wing patterns, offspring will display the wing pattern of the dominant supergene.
—Joseph Castro, Discover Magazine, 16 Aug. 2011
Keough's pop supergenes add another layer.
—Darren Franich, EW.com, 1 Mar. 2023
However, Trible’s team found that most of the genetic differences between the ant parasites and its host relatives are in that supergene.
—Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 6 Mar. 2023
These physical or statistical associations of genes can form a de facto supergene through linkage, and their variants combine to form haplotypes, sequences of markers across small stretches of the genome.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 10 Aug. 2011
The results suggested that the mechanism behind the swallowtail’s mimicry was a supergene, which commanded a whole constellation of individual genes and was therefore capable of major changes that could be easily mistaken for macromutation.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 1 Feb. 2022
Chromosomal rearrangements maintain a polymorphic supergene controlling butterfly mimicry.
—Joseph Castro, Discover Magazine, 16 Aug. 2011
Viviane Callier, Quanta Magazine, 8 May 2023
Researchers still have much to learn about how that supergene controls so many features — not just color, but also wing shape, and even behaviors like flight speed.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 1 Feb. 2022
If parent butterflies have differing wing patterns, offspring will display the wing pattern of the dominant supergene.
—Joseph Castro, Discover Magazine, 16 Aug. 2011
Keough's pop supergenes add another layer.
—Darren Franich, EW.com, 1 Mar. 2023
However, Trible’s team found that most of the genetic differences between the ant parasites and its host relatives are in that supergene.
—Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 6 Mar. 2023
These physical or statistical associations of genes can form a de facto supergene through linkage, and their variants combine to form haplotypes, sequences of markers across small stretches of the genome.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 10 Aug. 2011
The results suggested that the mechanism behind the swallowtail’s mimicry was a supergene, which commanded a whole constellation of individual genes and was therefore capable of major changes that could be easily mistaken for macromutation.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 1 Feb. 2022
Chromosomal rearrangements maintain a polymorphic supergene controlling butterfly mimicry.
—Joseph Castro, Discover Magazine, 16 Aug. 2011
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'supergene.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Supergene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supergene. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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supergene
noun
su·per·gene
ˈsü-pər-ˌjēn
: a group of linked genes acting as an allelic unit especially when due to the suppression of crossing-over
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