| reporter gene | <molecular biology> A gene that encodes an easily assayed product (e.g. CAT) that is coupled to the upstream sequence of another gene and transfected into cells. The reporter gene can then be used to see which factors activate response elements in the upstream region of the gene of interest. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| repressor gene | A gene that prevents a nonallele from being transcribed. (05 Mar 2000) |
| C gene | The gene coding for the constant regions of immunoglobulin chains. (05 Mar 2000) |
| rho gene | <molecular biology> Genes coding for small GTP-binding proteins, implicated in actin organisation and the interaction of the cytoskelton with intracellular membranes. See: ras, rab. (23 Aug 1998) |
| chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene | <molecular biology> A gene which codes for the CAT enzyme (the enzyme chloramphenicol acetyltransferase), which helps transfer an acetyl group (a CH3CO- group) to chloramphenicol, an antibiotic. The CAT gene is an important part of CAT assays. (09 Oct 1997) |
| mitochondrial gene | A functioning gene located not in the nucleus of a cell but in the mitochondrial chromosome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| modifier gene | A nonallelic gene that controls or changes the manifestation of a gene by interfering with its transcription. (05 Mar 2000) |
| codominant gene | A set of two or more alleles, each expressed phenotypically in the presence of the other. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pleiotropic gene | A gene that has multiple, apparently unrelated, phenotypic manifestations. Synonym: polyphenic gene. (05 Mar 2000) |
| constitutive gene | A gene which is continuously expressed without any regulation (transcription can be neither suppressed nor encouraged). These genes generally encode housekeeping functions and are expressed at low levels in all cells. (09 Oct 1997) |
| control gene | See: operator gene, regulator gene. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pol gene | <molecular biology> Genes coding for DNA polymerases of which there are three in E. Coli, polA, polB and polC coding for polymerases I, II and III respectively. Pol genes in oncogenic retroviruses code for reverse transcriptase. (18 Nov 1997) |
| mutant gene | A gene that has been changed from an ancestral type, not necessarily in the current generation. See: mutant, mutation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| polyphenic gene | A gene that has multiple, apparently unrelated, phenotypic manifestations. Synonym: polyphenic gene. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cytoplasmic gene | <molecular biology> A gene which occurs outside the nucleus of an eukaryote or outside the regular chromosomes of a bacteria. (09 Oct 1997) |