genes - Master This Word
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genes Word Meanings
- unit of heredity in living organisms
- sequence of DNA that encodes a protein
- influence on traits and characteristics
genes Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
genes Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/dʒiːn/
US
/dʒiːn/
genes Word Etymology
gene: from 'genos' (Greek) meaning 'family, race' + suffix '-e'. Historical origin: Greek → Latin → English. Memory image: Picture a family tree where each branch represents a different gene, connecting traits from ancestors to descendants.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I cup a tiny seed in my palm and steady my grip as I move it into the soil. I push the dirt over and set the seed in place, watching the plant begin to change with time. I keep adjusting light and water, feeling the effort pull tight and the sense that something unseen is guiding growth. That feeling settles into a simple rhythm: the gene quietly pushes what shows up in the plant.
Real Context
Genes are the basic units of heredity in living organisms. Each gene is a specific sequence of DNA that contains the instructions for making one or more proteins or for regulating when and how those proteins are produced. Genes influence physical traits such as eye color or height, as well as susceptibility to certain diseases and many aspects of behavior. They are located on chromosomes and can be inherited from parents, passed to offspring, and can be turned on or off in response to environmental factors. In everyday science and medicine, the term gene is used to describe both a hereditary unit and the functional DNA region that encodes a product.
Usage Reminders
- Gene refers to a single hereditary unit, not the entire genome.
- When talking about more than one gene, use 'genes'.
- Common collocations include gene expression, gene editing, and gene therapy.
- Pair it with related words like inherited, hereditary, and genetic to build context.
- Use family-tree imagery to memorize how traits pass from parent to child.
Common Misconceptions
- Genes are the same as chromosomes.
- A single gene determines every trait with 100% certainty.
- Genes alone decide traits; environment has no effect.
- DNA and genes are the same thing.
- You can see a gene with the naked eye.
Thinking Differences
In English, gene is treated as a concrete biological unit; learners often confuse it with genome or genetics and forget plural forms. Emphasize the distinction between a single gene and the whole genome, and practice common collocations like gene expression.
Learning Tips
- Practice the pronunciation: 'gene' rhymes with 'seen' and starts with a soft 'g'.
- Remember the plural: 'genes' when talking about more than one gene.
- Learn key phrases: gene expression, gene editing, gene therapy.
- Differentiate gene from genome and genetics in your notes.
- Use a family-tree image to memorize inheritance ideas.
- Read short biology texts to see how 'gene' is used in context.
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