{
    "term": "gene",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox5000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "a unit inside a cell that controls a particular quality in a living thing that has been passed on from its parents",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a **dominant/recessive gene**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "genes that code for the colour of the eyes"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Genes control the development of an embryo."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The gene is passed on to their children."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We may be able to identify the genes responsible for disease resistance."
                },
                {
                    "text": "people who carry the gene that causes this disease"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Biology"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["dominant", "recessive", "abnormal"],
                "verb + gene": ["carry", "have", "pass on"],
                "gene + verb": [
                    "affect something",
                    "be responsible for something",
                    "cause something"
                ],
                "gene + noun": ["pool", "defect", "mutation"],
                "preposition": ["gene for"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be a quality that your parents have passed on to you",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I've always enjoyed music—it's in the genes."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/dʒiːn/",
                "audio": "ge/gene/gene__gb_2.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/dʒiːn/",
                "audio": "ge/gene/gene_1_us_3.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "early 20th cent.: from German Gen, from Pangen, a supposed ultimate unit of heredity (from Greek pan- ‘all’ + genos ‘race, kind, offspring’)."
}