B1nounsciencehealth
US/dʒiːn/
UK/dʒiːn/
a tiny part of a cell, passed from parents to children, that controls features like eye color
In context
She has her father's genes, so she's tall and has curly hair.
Scientists have found a gene that may increase the risk of heart disease.
Good health depends on your genes, but also on what you eat.
Words that go with gene
verb + noun
- carry a geneBoth parents may carry a gene for the disease without being sick.
- identify a geneThe team was the first to identify a gene linked to the condition.
noun + noun
- gene therapyGene therapy may one day cure some rare illnesses.
adjective + noun
- good genesMy grandmother is ninety and still active; she must have good genes.
noun + preposition
- gene forThere is no single gene for intelligence.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
This disease is in our gens.Correct: This disease is in our genes.