Question

What is gene? Who gave this concept?

Answer 1

Hint: Have you ever wondered why an elephant always gives birth only to a baby elephant and not the other animal. Or why a mango seed forms only a mango plant and not any other plant. This and several related questions are dealt with, scientifically in a branch of biology known as genetics. This subject deals with inheritance as well as variations of characters from the parent to offspring. Inheritance is the process by which characters are passed on from parent to progeny; it is the basis of heredity. Variation is the degree by which progeny differ from their parents.

Complete Answer:
- In biology, a gene is a sequence of nucleotides in DNA or RNA that encodes the synthesis of a gene product either RNA or protein. Gene is the unit of heredity.
- During gene expression, the DNA is first copied into RNA. The RNA can be a directly functional or intermediate template for protein that performs a function.

 - The term gene was coined by Wilhelm Johannses. The classical concept of gene was introduced by Sutton in 1902.

- The transmission of genes to an organism's offspring is the basis of inheritance of phenotypic traits. This gene's makeup difference DNA sequences called genotypes.
- Genotypes along with the developmental factors of what the phenotypes will be.

Some additional information:
- Many biological traits are under the influence of polygenes or many different genes as well as gene-environment interaction.
- Some genetic traits are instantly visible such as eye colour or the number of limbs.

Note: A gene is a region of DNA that encodes function. A chromosome consists of a long strand of DNA containing many genes. A human chromosome can have up to 500 million base pairs of DNA with thousands of genes.