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• gene
  gene

  noun

  the basic physical unit of heredity; a linear sequence of nucleotides along a segment of DNA that provides the coded instructions for synthesis of RNA, which, when translated into protein, leads to the expression of hereditary character.
• Gene
  Gene

  noun

  a male given name, form of Eugene.
• -gene
  -gene

  suffix

  a variant of -gen

gene

¹ American  

[jeen] / dʒin /

noun

genes plural

1. the basic physical unit of heredity; a linear sequence of nucleotides along a segment of DNA that provides the coded instructions for synthesis of RNA, which, when translated into protein, leads to the expression of hereditary character.

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Gene ² American  

[jeen] / dʒin /

noun

1. a male given name, form of Eugene.

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-gene ¹ British  

suffix

1. a variant of -gen

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gene ² British  

/ dʒiːn /

noun

1. a unit of heredity composed of DNA occupying a fixed position on a chromosome (some viral genes are composed of RNA). A gene may determine a characteristic of an individual by specifying a polypeptide chain that forms a protein or part of a protein ( structural gene ); or encode an RNA molecule; or regulate the operation of other genes or repress such operation See also operon

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gene Scientific  

/ jēn /

1. A segment of DNA, occupying a specific place on a chromosome, that is the basic unit of heredity. Genes act by directing the production of RNA, which determines the synthesis of proteins that make up living matter and are the catalysts of all cellular processes. The proteins that are determined by genetic DNA result in specific physical traits, such as the shape of a plant leaf, the coloration of an animal's coat, or the texture of a person's hair. Different forms of genes, called alleles, determine how these traits are expressed in a given individual. Humans are thought to have 20,000 to 25,000 genes; bacteria have between 500 and 6,000.

2. See also dominant recessive See Note at Mendel

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gene Cultural  

1. A portion of a DNA molecule that serves as the basic unit of heredity. Genes control the characteristics that an offspring will have by transmitting information in the sequence of nucleotides on short sections of DNA.

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Usage

What is a gene? A gene is a sequence of nucleotides along a strand of DNA that a cell nucleus uses to produce proteins. Genes determine the specific traits of an organism. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a large molecule that is shaped like a double helix sometimes described as a twisty ladder. The rungs of the ladder are made of molecules called nucleotides. These rungs, or bases, are arranged in a specific order that creates a set of instructions, which is known as a gene. When the body needs to do something or build something, it often requires a protein. Genes are the instructions that the cells read for how to build proteins. Proteins have very specific jobs, so scientists name genes based on what job their linked proteins are designed to do. For example, hair proteins come from hair genes, while eye proteins come from eye genes. Every living organism has genes. Animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, and even the humble amoeba all have genes. The more closely related two organisms are, the more similar their genes will be. For example a dog and a wolf, which are from the same genus, will have similar genes, while a dog and a human, which are not part of the same genus, will have much different genes from each other.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• genes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of gene

First recorded in 1911; from German Gen (1909), apparently abstracted from -gen -gen ( def. ); introduced by Danish geneticist Wilhelm L. Johannsen (1857–1927)

Explanation

Microscopic, yet powerful, a gene is segment of DNA, the molecule that stores the code for building living bodies. A gene is a single unit of genetic information, stored on twisting strands in every cell of every living being. In sexual reproduction, the parents' genes mix together to make the child. Although people would like to think that genes code for discrete traits, like friendliness or mathematical genius, that's not the case. Genes control the color of your eyes and the shape of your toes, not your weird personality.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gene Gene -gene genes

This is the same gene that is mutated in people with FPLD2.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026

Mr. Woolfson also lingers admiringly on Har Gobind Khorana, a village clerk’s son in British India who went on to synthesize the first fully artificial gene in 1972.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

Part of the difficulty has to do with gene sequencing, he explained.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

They also studied hippocampal tissue from older mice engineered to carry the human APOE2, APOE3, or APOE4 gene.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 24, 2026

Fabyan was about to expand into gene research at Riverbank, and he wanted a bright young man to lead the way.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

While Mr. Richman’s vocals retained punk’s nasal, monochromatic tone, his songs were dorky and witty, channeling Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent and Freddie and the Dreamers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

Clough and her husband, Dr. Gene Dorio, a house-call geriatrician I’ve written about several times, were driving home from a medical appointment the other day when I reached them by phone.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026

These days, even buying “a starter home just seems so daunting,” Gene White, a 27-year-old who works in communications, told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026

One time he was playing at a private club in New York where on the neighbouring court Hollywood actors Gene Wilder and Sidney Poitier were filming a movie.

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

Then Gene looks up like he’s searching his mind.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell

Coupled with abundant haplotype diversity, tetraploid potato may therefore contain thousands of -gene analogues.

From Nature ● Jul. 13, 2011

Longevity prospered because these fit, caring and longer-lived grandmothers passed along their genes to more grandchildren.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Being born with good genes and not abusing them, along with remaining active can be a big plus.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026

These tools estimate biological age by measuring DNA methylation, a pattern of chemical tags that influences how genes are switched on or off without changing the DNA sequence itself.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026

About 20% of aortic dissections are thought to be the result of genes.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026

Second, genes had to explain evolution: How could the inheritance of such units explain that organisms have acquired vastly different forms and features over time?

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee