Talk:gene

Gene (n) definition
Current: "(genetics) An entity passed down from parents to offspring in reproduction that encodes information essential for the construction and regulation of proteins (such as enzymes) and other molecules that determine the growth and functioning of the organism."

The original definition: "a unit of heredity", although not as long as the current expansion, is correct.
 * A gene does not convert information into code, so it should not be described as encoding information. The gene is the information.
 * It isn't more descriptive to replace unit with "entity" (something that exists as a unit).
 * Since gene is singular, "from parent to offspring" would be better.
 * Do "from parent to offspring" and "reproduction" include replication of viral genes?
 * Doesn't "and other molecules" mean RNA?

How about: A unit of heredity; a segment of DNA or RNA that is transmitted from one generation to the next, and that carries genetic information such as the sequence of amino acids for a protein. Dr d12 19:40, 20 January 2007 (UTC)

Source for Spanish section?
What is the source for the Spanish section? The DRAE does not have the word gene, it says that gene in Spanish is gen. The wikipedia article in Spanish on genes also only has the word gen and not gene. Can anyone confirm?

--ValJor 11:15, 13 July 2008 (UTC)