English > gene: 1 sense > noun 1, body| Meaning | (genetics) a segment of DNA that is involved in producing a polypeptide chain; it can include regions preceding and following the coding DNA as well as introns between the exons; it is considered a unit of heredity. |
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| Example | "genes were formerly called factors" |
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| Synonyms | cistron, factor |
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| Category | genetics, genetic science | The branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms |
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| molecular biology | The branch of biology that studies the structure and activity of macromolecules essential to life (and especially with their genetic role) |
| Part of | chromosome | A threadlike strand of DNA in the cell nucleus that carries the genes in a linear order |
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| deoxyribonucleic acid, desoxyribonucleic acid, DNA | (biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix |
| Narrower | X-linked gene | A gene located on an X chromosome |
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| Y-linked gene, holandric gene | A gene located on a Y chromosome |
| allele, allelomorph | (genetics) either of a pair (or series) of alternative forms of a gene that can occupy the same locus on a particular chromosome and that control the same character |
| dominant gene | gene that produces the same phenotype in the organism whether or not its allele identical |
| genetic marker | A specific gene that produces a recognizable trait and can be used in family or population studies / studies |
| homeotic gene | One the genes that are involved in embryologic development |
| lethal gene | Any gene that has an effect that causes the death of the organism at any stage / stage of life |
| linkage group, linked genes | Any pair of genes that tend to be transmitted together |
| modifier, modifier gene | A gene that modifies the effect produced by another gene |
| mutant gene | A gene that has changed so that the normal transmission and expression of a trait is affected |
| nonallele | genes that are not competitors at the same locus |
| oncogene, transforming gene | A gene that disposes normal cells to change into cancerous tumor cells |
| operator gene | A gene that activates the production of messenger RNA by adjacent structural genes |
| polygene | A gene that by itself has little effect on the phenotype but which can act together with others to produce observable variations |
| proto-oncogene | A normal gene that has the potential to become an oncogene |
| recessive gene | gene that produces its characteristic phenotype only when its allele is identical |
| regulatory gene, regulator gene | A gene that produces a repressor substance that inhibits an operator gene |
| repressor gene | gene that prevents a nonallele from being transcribed |
| structural gene | A gene that controls the production of a specific protein or peptide |
| suppressor, suppresser, suppressor gene, suppresser gene | A gene that suppresses the phenotypic expression of another gene (especially of a mutant gene) |
| transgene | An exogenous gene introduced into the genome of another organism |
| Broader | sequence | Serial arrangement in which things follow in logical order or a recurrent pattern |
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| Spanish | cistrón, gene, genes, gen |
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| Catalan | cistrón, gen |
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| Adjectives | genetic, genetical | of or relating to the science of genetics |
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| genic, genetic, genetical | of or relating to or produced by or being a gene |
