gene
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gene
A unit of hereditary information in biology that is located on DNA. A gene contains the instructions for building a particular protein and thus determines a trait of a living organism.
Forscher haben das Gen entdeckt, das für die Augenfarbe verantwortlich ist.
Researchers have discovered the gene that is responsible for eye color.
The word stem 'Gen-' (gene/genetic) is the basis for many important words in biology and medicine. If you see 'Gen-' at the beginning of a word, it probably has to do with genetics, as in 'Gentechnik' (genetic engineering), 'Genforschung' (genetic research), or 'Genanalyse' (gene analysis).
Die moderne Genforschung macht große Fortschritte.
Modern genetic research is making great progress.
'Gen' (gene) is a technical term from biology. However, it is also used very frequently in everyday language when people talk about health, heredity, or personal traits.
Manche sagen, das musikalische Talent liegt bei ihr in den Genen.
Some people say her musical talent is in her genes.
To describe what a gene is responsible for, the construction 'das Gen für' (the gene for) + accusative is almost always used. This names the trait or characteristic.
Man hat das Gen für diese Krankheit noch nicht identifiziert.
The gene for this disease has not yet been identified.
Common verbs in connection with 'Gen' (gene) are 'ein Gen tragen' (to carry a gene), 'ein Gen erben' (to inherit a gene), or 'ein Gen verändern' (to alter a gene). Adjectives are often 'dominant' (dominant), 'rezessiv' (recessive), or 'defekt' (defective).
Er hat die seltenen Gene von seinen beiden Eltern geerbt.
He inherited the rare genes from both of his parents.
chromosome
A gene and a chromosome both carry hereditary information, but they are not the same thing. A gene is a single section of DNA containing instructions for a particular trait, while a chromosome contains many genes. Use „Gen“ for the individual section and „Chromosom“ for the larger structure.
Dieses Gen enthält die Anweisungen für ein bestimmtes Merkmal des Kindes.
This gene contains the instructions for a particular trait of the child.
Dieses Chromosom enthält viele Gene mit verschiedenen Erbinformationen.
This chromosome contains many genes with different types of hereditary information.
