/dʒiːn/
#2168 of 5,000 Core 5000
Translation
A tiny part inside every living thing that carries information from parents to children, such as eye colour.
Word origin
Coined in 1909 by the Danish scientist Wilhelm Johannsen, from Greek genos, meaning birth or kind.
- Origin
- Greek
- Root
- genos
- English cognates
- generation, genetic
Grammar
Gender
Pluralgenes
Examples
.
We usually talk about genes in the plural.
singing .
People say this as a joke about family talents.
Scientists .
One gene can be linked to one trait or illness.
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Go to my review queueThis word is part of lesson 44.