gene

Definitions

gene is the root itself, standing alone: from Greek genos ('birth, kind'). A gene is the thing 'born' from parent to child — the smallest unit of what gets passed down. Coined in 1909, it became the seed of the whole modern family: genetic, genome, genetics.

Common Collocations

• 1.dominant gene显性基因
• 2.recessive gene隐性基因
• 3.gene therapy基因疗法
• 4.gene pool基因库

Example Sentences

• 1.

  Scientists identified the gene responsible for the disease.

• 2.

  Eye color is determined by more than one gene.

• 3.

  The gene can be switched on or off by the environment.

Easily Confused

gene vs genus vs genre — all from the same root but distinct: a gene is a unit of heredity (biology); a genus is a rank in biological classification (genus → species); a genre is a category of art or music. Same 'kind/birth' idea, three different fields.