LETHAL GENE Meaning and
Definition
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A lethal gene refers to a specific type of gene that, when inherited by an organism, leads to the death or mortality of that organism at an early stage of development or throughout its lifespan. Lethal genes usually carry mutations or alterations that severely disrupt the normal functioning of essential biological processes, impairing vital functions necessary for survival.
These genes can be either recessive or dominant, meaning they can be masked or manifested in the presence of other genes. In case of a recessive lethal gene, the organism must inherit two copies of the mutated gene, one from each parent, to develop the lethal condition. However, if an organism carries only one copy of the recessive lethal gene, it may not display any harmful effects since the presence of the healthy version of the gene compensates for the mutated copy.
Dominant lethal genes, on the other hand, have a more straightforward impact on an organism's survival. In this case, an organism only needs to inherit one copy of the mutated gene to exhibit the lethal condition, regardless of whether the other copy is healthy or mutated.
Lethal genes play a significant role in genetic studies and inheritance patterns. They can help researchers identify specific genes responsible for certain diseases or conditions by observing their adverse effects on an organism's survival. Additionally, understanding the inheritance patterns of lethal genes facilitates the identification and counseling of carriers, ensuring informed decisions in human and animal breeding programs.
Common Misspellings for LETHAL GENE
- kethal gene
- pethal gene
- oethal gene
- lwthal gene
- lsthal gene
- ldthal gene
- lrthal gene
- l4thal gene
- l3thal gene
- lerhal gene
- lefhal gene
- leghal gene
- leyhal gene
- le6hal gene
- le5hal gene
- letgal gene
- letbal gene
- letnal gene
- letjal gene
Etymology of LETHAL GENE
The etymology of the word "lethal gene" can be broken down as follows:
1. Lethal: The word "lethal" originated from the Latin word "lētālis", which means "deadly" or "lethal". It is derived from the Latin word "lētum", meaning "death", which comes from the verb "linquere", meaning "to leave" or "to abandon".
2. Gene: The term "gene" was coined by the Danish botanist and geneticist Wilhelm Johannsen in the early 20th century. Johannsen derived it from the Greek word "génos", meaning "race", "family", or "kind". The term was introduced to describe the fundamental unit of heredity that determines traits in living organisms.
Similar spelling word for LETHAL GENE
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