1. Parts of Speech: Noun
2. Definitions: Genes are the basic physical and functional units of heredity. They are made up of DNA and act as instructions to make molecules called proteins. These proteins perform various functions in the body and determine traits such as eye color, height, and susceptibility to certain diseases.
3. Pronunciations: US: /dʒinz/; UK: /dʒiːnz/
4. Origin and Usage: The word "genes" was first used in 1909 by Danish botanist Wilhelm Johannsen to describe the units of heredity that he observed in plants. The term comes from the Greek word "genos," which means "race" or "kind." Today, the study of genes and their role in heredity is an important field of biology and genetics.
5. Synonyms: DNA, heredity, genetics, chromosomes
6. Related Words: Chrom, Cell, Trait, Blood, Brain
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