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defined:
The functional and physical unit of heredity passed from parent to offspring. Genes are pieces of DNA, and most genes contain the information for making a specific protein.
explained:
Listen to a detailed explanation. (Requires the free RealPlayer download) Dr. Francis Collins, former director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, gives a casual definition of gene.
illustrated:
View illustration
relatedterms:
base pair, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), genome, nucleus, protein
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