gene

gene

noun \ˈjēn\

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

1. She inherited a good set of genes from her parents.

Origin of GENE

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

First Known Use: 1911

Other Genetics Terms

chimera, hermaphrodite, plasticity

Rhymes with GENE

bean, clean, dean, Dean, Deane, dene, e'en, glean, green, jean, keen, lean, lien, mean, mesne, mien, peen, preen, quean, queen, scene, screen, sheen, shin, sin, spean, spleen, teen, tween, wean, ween, wheen, yean