gene
Unit of heredity
A gene is a unit of heredity—a segment of DNA that carries instructions for building proteins or performing other biological functions.
Genes pass from parents to offspring and determine traits like eye color, height, and disease susceptibility.
It runs in my genes suggests inherited tendency.
The related adjective is genetic; the study of genes is genetics.
Property received from ancestors
- heritabilityGenetic share of variation
- dominantHaving superior influence
- recessiveMasked unless paired identically
- alleleGene variant at one locus
phenotype · trait · offspring · lineage · pedigree · ancestry · heritage · transmission
Hereditary code molecule
- nucleotideGenetic code subunit
- adeninePurine nucleobase in DNA
- thymineDNA nitrogen base
- cytosinePyrimidine nucleobase in genetics
guanine · codon · exon · intron · promoter · enhancer · transcription · splicing
Determining element order
- CRISPRGene-editing molecular machinery
- cloningMaking identical copies
- knockoutIncapacitating final blow
- vectorQuantity with direction
plasmid · PCR · bioinformatics · genomics · geneticist · mapping · annotation · biobank
Particular position or place
- chromosomeDNA strand carrying genes
- centromereChromosome's spindle attachment site
- telomereProtective chromosome terminus
- homologousHaving shared evolutionary origin
diploid · heterozygous · karyotype · linkage · recombination · chromatin · nucleosome · haplotype
Tumor suppressor gene
- apoptosisProgrammed cell death
- carcinogenesisMalignant transformation process
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
- proliferationRapid increase in quantity
Differing form of something
- alleleGene variant at one locus
- polymorphismMany forms, one interface
- deletionRemoval of content
- insertionPlacing something within
frameshift · nonsense · germline · somatic · deleterious · gain-of-function · substitution · wild-type
Fitting to new conditions
- speciationFormation of distinct species
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
- homologousHaving shared evolutionary origin
- conservedKept from being used up
Written version of speech
- translationConverting between languages
- mRNAGene's working copy
- proteinFolded amino chain
- promoterOne who organizes events
enhancer · silencer · regulation · upregulation · downregulation · repressor · activator · splicing
Scientific crime-scene analysis
- paternityMale parent status
- biomarkerMeasurable biological health signal
- ethnic-originAncestral cultural background
inheritance
Property received from ancestors
- heritabilityGenetic share of variation
- dominantHaving superior influence
- recessiveMasked unless paired identically
allele · phenotype · trait · offspring · lineage · pedigree · ancestry · heritage · transmission · Mendelian
DNA
Hereditary code molecule
- nucleotideGenetic code subunit
- adeninePurine nucleobase in DNA
- thymineDNA nitrogen base
cytosine · guanine · codon · exon · intron · promoter · enhancer · transcription · splicing
sequencing
Determining element order
- CRISPRGene-editing molecular machinery
- cloningMaking identical copies
- knockoutIncapacitating final blow
vector · plasmid · PCR · bioinformatics · genomics · geneticist · mapping · annotation · biobank · pharmacogenomics
locus
Particular position or place
- chromosomeDNA strand carrying genes
- centromereChromosome's spindle attachment site
- telomereProtective chromosome terminus
homologous · diploid · heterozygous · karyotype · linkage · recombination · chromatin · nucleosome · haplotype · cytogenetics
BRCA
Tumor suppressor gene
- apoptosisProgrammed cell death
- carcinogenesisMalignant transformation process
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
variant
Differing form of something
- alleleGene variant at one locus
- polymorphismMany forms, one interface
- deletionRemoval of content
insertion · frameshift · nonsense · germline · somatic · deleterious · gain-of-function · substitution · wild-type
adaptation
Fitting to new conditions
- speciationFormation of distinct species
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
- homologousHaving shared evolutionary origin
conserved · divergence · fitness · coalescence · bottleneck
transcription
Written version of speech
- translationConverting between languages
- mRNAGene's working copy
- proteinFolded amino chain
promoter · enhancer · silencer · regulation · upregulation · downregulation · repressor · activator · splicing · methylation
forensics
Scientific crime-scene analysis
- paternityMale parent status
- biomarkerMeasurable biological health signal
- ethnic-originAncestral cultural background
- reproductionreproduction, birth, baby, egg, sperm
- heredityDNA, chromosomes, inheritance, traits, chromosome
- Soft G Wordsgel, gem, genie, genius, gentle
- BiotechDNA, bioengineering, DNA sequencing, clone, CRISPR
- cell biologycell membrane, cell division, cytoplasm, ribosome, mitochondria
- geneticsDNA, allele, chromosomes, chromosome, mutation
genegenome
Organism's total hereditary material
chromosome · whole organism · phenotype · organism · nucleotide
geneenvironment
External conditions affecting life
nurture · upbringing · experience · learning · conditioning
genememe
Shared online humor
tradition · cultural practice · learned behavior · social norm · custom
- Gene Hackman
- Genetically modified foodProduce with altered DNA
- generation gapAge-based cultural disconnect
- younger generationThose born later
- next generationSubsequent group following current
- new generationSuccessors to current group
generous, generation, genial, generate, genes, genetic, progeny, genesis, genealogy