gene

Noun
  1. (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 (synset 105444328)
    "genes were formerly called factors"
    referred to in:
    • genetic science, genetics - the branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms
    • molecular biology - the branch of biology that studies the structure and activity of macromolecules essential to life (and especially with their genetic role)
    is a type of: sequence - serial arrangement in which things follow in logical order or a recurrent pattern
    subtypes:
    • dominant gene - gene that produces the same phenotype in the organism whether or not its allele identical
    • 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
    • genetic marker - a specific gene that produces a recognizable trait and can be used in family or population 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 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
    • operator gene - a gene that activates the production of messenger RNA by adjacent structural genes
    • oncogene, transforming gene - a gene that disposes normal cells to change into cancerous tumor cells
    • 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
    • regulator gene, regulatory 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
    • suppresser, suppresser gene, suppressor, suppressor 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
    • x-linked gene - a gene located on an X chromosome
    • holandric gene, y-linked gene - a gene located on a Y chromosome
    is a part of:
    • chromosome - a threadlike strand of DNA in the cell nucleus that carries the genes in a linear order
    • 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; associated with the transmission of genetic information
    same as: cistron, factor

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