gene

noun
UK: /dʒiːn/
US: /dʒiːn/

  1. A unit of heredity that is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.

    1. This gene controls eye color in fruit flies. [ ] [ ]
    2. Scientists are mapping the human genome to identify genes linked to diseases. [ ] [ ]

  2. A segment of DNA or RNA that encodes a functional RNA or protein.

    1. The gene for insulin is located on chromosome 11. [ ] [ ]
    2. Genetic engineering involves modifying genes to improve crop yields. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

factor element genome

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "gene" in English means: A unit of heredity that is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring., A segment of DNA or RNA that encodes a functional RNA or protein..

The phonetic transcription of "gene" is /dʒiːn/ in British English and /dʒiːn/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "gene": factor, element, genome.

Example usage of "gene": "This gene controls eye color in fruit flies.". More examples on the page.