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Showing results for lethal gene. Search instead for lethal agent.

lethal gene

American  

noun

Genetics.
  1. a gene that under certain conditions causes the death of an organism.


Etymology

Origin of lethal gene

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Oxitec’s latest strain of GM mosquitoes is designed to spread the lethal gene more effectively.

From Science Magazine Sep. 17, 2019

Male offspring survive to pass on the lethal gene.

From Science Magazine Sep. 17, 2019

They have been genetically engineered to pass a lethal gene to their offspring, which die before they can reach adulthood.

From New York Times Jan. 30, 2016

The males impart the lethal gene to their offspring which, lacking the dietary supplement to keep them alive, die before adulthood.

From BBC Feb. 24, 2015

When the modified mosquitoes mate with the local A. aegyptimosquitoes, they spread the lethal gene through the population, in theory causing it to crash.

From Scientific American Aug. 8, 2011

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