gene

//dʒiːn//
B2Frequency Level 7Technical
Visual representation of gene

Noun

genesPlural
1

A unit of heredity that is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring; a distinct sequence of DNA or RNA that codes for a specific protein or functional molecule.

Scientists have identified the gene responsible for eye color.

2

A segment of DNA that contains the instructions for making a particular protein or set of proteins, located at a specific position on a chromosome.

Each gene on the chromosome carries instructions for producing a specific protein.