Definition(s)
- The functional and physical unit of heredity passed from parent to offspring. Genes are pieces of DNA, and most genes contain the information for making a specific protein.
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Definition from: Physician Data Query via Unified Medical Language System
at the National Library of Medicine
- The
basic unit of heredity, consisting of a segment of DNA arranged in a linear
manner along a chromosome, which codes for a specific protein or segment
of protein leading to a particular characteristic or function
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Definition from: GeneReviews
from the University of Washington and the National Center for Biotechnology Information
- The gene is the basic physical unit of inheritance. Genes are passed from parents to offspring and contain the information needed to specify traits. Genes are arranged, one after another, on structures called chromosomes. A chromosome contains a single, long DNA molecule, only a portion of which corresponds to a single gene. Humans have approximately 23,000 genes arranged on their chromosomes.
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Definition from: Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms from the National Human Genome Research Institute
- The fundamental physical and functional unit of heredity. A gene is an ordered sequence of nucleotides located in a particular position on a particular chromosome that encodes a specific functional product (i.e., a protein or RNA molecule).
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Definition from: Human Genome Project Information
at the U.S. Department of Energy
Related discussion in the Handbook
See also Understanding Medical Terminology.
