gene (n.)

1911, from German Gen, coined 1905 by Danish scientist Wilhelm Ludvig Johannsen (1857-1927), from Greek genea "generation, race" (from PIE root *gene- "give birth, beget"). De Vries had earlier called them pangenes. Gene pool is attested from 1946.

also from 1911

Entries linking to gene

genetic (adj.)

1831, "pertaining to origins," coined by Carlyle as if from Greek genetikos from genesis "origin" (see genesis). Darwin used it biologically as "resulting from common origin" (1859); modern sense of "pertaining to genetics or genes" is from 1908 (see gene). Related: Genetically. Genetical is attested from 1650s as "pertaining to origins."

genome (n.)

"sum total of genes in a set," 1930, genom, modeled on German genom, coined 1920 by German botanist Hans Winkler, from gen "gene" (see gene) + (chromos)om "chromosome" (see chromosome).

See all related words (6) >

Trends of gene

adapted from books.google.com/ngrams/. Ngrams are probably unreliable.

More to Explore

meme

"an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture," 1976, introduced by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins in "The Selfish Gene," coined by him from Greek sources, such as mimeisthai "to imitate" (see mime (n.)), and intended to echo gene. We n

factor

early 15c., "commercial agent, deputy, one who buys or sells for another," from French facteur "agent, representative" (Old French factor, faitor "doer, author, creator"), from Latin factor "doer, maker, performer," in Medieval Latin, "agent," agent noun from past participle stem

congenial

" from assimilated form of Latin com "with, together" (see con-) + genialis "of birth," thus, "kindred" (from PIE root *gene...

Manx

nbsp;Manx cat, without a tail, is attested by 1843; the natural mutation arose among cats there and took root in a limited gene...

Spock

half-alien character in the "Star Trek" U.S. entertainment franchise, developed and named 1964 by series creator Gene Roddenberry...

german

"sprout, bud," which is of uncertain origin; perhaps it is a dissimilation of PIE *gen(e)-men-, suffixed form of root *gene...

ingenious

which is inborn," from in- "in" (from PIE root *en "in") + gignere "to beget" (from PIE *gen(e)-yo-, suffixed form of root *gene...

and

Old English and, ond, originally meaning "thereupon, next," from Proto-Germanic *unda (source also of Old Saxon endi, Old Frisian anda, Middle Dutch ende, Old High German enti, German und, Old Norse enn), from PIE root *en "in." Introductory use (implying connection to something

sequence

late 14c., in church music, a composition said or sung after the Alleluia and before the Gospel, from Old French sequence "answering verses" (13c.) and directly from Medieval Latin sequentia "a following, a succession," from Latin sequentem (nominative sequens), present participl

revolution

late 14c., revolucioun, originally of celestial bodies, "one (apparent) rotation about the earth," also the time required for this, also "act or fact of moving in a circular course," from Old French revolucion "course, revolution" of celestial bodies (13c.) or directly from Late

Share gene

‘cite’

Page URL:

https://www.etymonline.com/word/gene

HTML Link:

<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/gene">Etymology of gene by etymonline</a>

APA style:

Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of gene. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/gene

Chicago style:

Harper Douglas, “Etymology of gene,” Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/gene.

MLA style:

Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of gene.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/gene. Accessed $(datetimeMla).

IEEE style:

D. Harper. “Etymology of gene.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/gene (accessed $(datetime)).

updated on December 13, 2020

Remove ads >

Trending words

1. dogma
2. eucharist
3. demure
4. advent
5. adventure
6. giantess
7. carat
8. arcane
9. vatican
10. joy

Dictionary entries near gene

gemmologist

gemstone

-gen

gendarme

gender

gene

*gene-

genealogical

genealogist

genealogy

genera