gene

Etymology

From German Gen, from Ancient Greek γενεά (geneá, “generation, descent”), from the aorist infinitive of γίγνομαι (gígnomai, “I come into being”). Coined by the Danish biologist Wilhelm Ludvig Johannsen in a German-language publication.

Pronunciation

• enPR: jēn, IPA^(key): /dʒiːn/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iːn
• Homophones: Gene, Jean

Noun

gene (plural genes)

1. (genetics) A theoretical unit of heredity of living organisms ; a gene may take several values and in principle predetermines a precise trait of an organism's form (phenotype), such as hair color.
   • The gene has been defined by the Danish botanist, plant physiologist, and geneticist Wilhelm Ludvig Johannsen, in 1909 in the book Arvelighedslærens Elementer (elements of the study of heredity), as the unit of heredity.
   • 2013 June 21, Karen McVeigh, “US rules human genes can't be patented”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 2, page 10:

     The US supreme court has ruled unanimously that natural human genes cannot be patented, a decision that scientists and civil rights campaigners said removed a major barrier to patient care and medical innovation.

2. (molecular biology) A segment of DNA or RNA from a cell's or an organism's genome, that may take several forms and thus parameterizes a phenomenon, in general the structure of a protein; locus.
   • A change in a gene is reflected in the protein or RNA molecule that it codes for.

Usage notes

• In the simplest case and in principle, a gene locus is supposed to be the physical reality corresponding to the theoretical gene unit of heredity; in practice, things are far more complicated and confused, which is well known and acknowledged. However, these questions are the subject of still very active scientific research, as well as the topic of both scientific and philosophical questions, especially on the real compatibility between both senses of the term.

Anagrams

• Enge

Etymology

From French gêne.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɕeːnə/

Noun

gene c (singular definite genen, plural indefinite gener)

1. Something that bothers; a nuisance.

   Røgen fra skorstenen er til gene for naboerne.

   The smoke from the chimney is bothering the neighbours.

References

• “gene” in Den Danske Ordbog

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eːnə

Adjective

gene

1. Inflected form of geen

Anagrams

• geen, neeg, nege

Noun

gene m (plural geni)

1. (genetics) gene

Etymology

From Old Dutch *gēn, from Proto-Germanic *jainaz.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɣeːnə/

Determiner

gêne

1. that over there, yonder

Further reading

• “ghene (II)”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• “gene”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, 1929

Noun

gene m

1. (genetics) gene

Noun

gene m (plural genes)

1. gene

Etymology

From Old Turkic yana‎.

Adverb

gene

1. (colloquial) yine (again)

Noun

gene

1. dative singular of gen