Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Gene Families01:57

Gene Families

Gene families consist of groups of genes proposed to have originated from a common ancestor. Typically these arise through events in which a gene or genes are mistakenly duplicated during cell division. Unlike their parent genes (which are subject to selection pressure to maintain function), these gene copies do not need to preserve their sequences and may evolve at a relatively faster rate.
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
Gene Families01:57

Gene Families

Gene families consist of groups of genes proposed to have originated from a common ancestor. Typically these arise through events in which a gene or genes are mistakenly duplicated during cell division. Unlike their parent genes (which are subject to selection pressure to maintain function), these gene copies do not need to preserve their sequences and may evolve at a relatively faster rate.
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
What is Genetic Engineering?00:49

What is Genetic Engineering?

Overview
Structure of a Gene01:30

Structure of a Gene

A gene is the fundamental unit of heredity. Every individual has two copies of each gene, one inherited from each parent. Although most people contain the same genes, there is a small fraction that is slightly different amongst people. A gene with a small difference in its sequence of DNA bases forms different alleles, contributing to different phenotypes.
However, only 1% of the DNA is composed of genes that encode proteins; the rest, 99% is non-coding DNA. This non-coding DNA performs...
What is Gene Expression?01:42

What is Gene Expression?

Overview
Gene expression is the process in which DNA directs the synthesis of functional products, that is, proteins. Cells can regulate gene expression at various stages. It allows organisms to generate different cell types and enables cells to adapt to internal and external factors.
Genetic Information Flows from DNA to RNA to Protein
A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is made up of nucleotides and proteins consist of amino...
What is Gene Expression?01:36

What is Gene Expression?

A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is comprised  of nucleotides and proteins are comprised of amino acids, a mediator is required to convert the information encoded in DNA into proteins. This mediator is the messenger RNA (mRNA). mRNA copies the blueprint from DNA by a process called transcription. In eukaryotes, transcription occurs in the nucleus by complementary base-pairing with the DNA template. The mRNA is then processed and...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Benchmarking short- and long-read sequencing technologies for metagenomic profiling of microbiomes.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Federated, governed, and interoperable? The emerging architecture of public human genomic data infrastructures: a European perspective.

Frontiers in genetics·2026
Same author

Machine learning-based assessment of the healthy human gut mycobiota landscape using ITS1 DNA metabarcoding data.

BioData mining·2026
Same author

Enhanced Untargeted Metabolomics Based on High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Reveals Global Rewiring Due to Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Yeast.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026
Same author

Single-cell transcriptomic profiling of human fetal neural stem cells isolated from the subventricular zone.

Frontiers in cell and developmental biology·2026
Same author

Integration of intragraft transcriptomics and urinary cytokines identifies CXCL10 and FasL signature in subclinical acute rejection.

Scientific reports·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Comprehensive Workflow for the Genome-wide Identification and Expression Meta-analysis of the ATL E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Gene Family in Grapevine
10:40

Comprehensive Workflow for the Genome-wide Identification and Expression Meta-analysis of the ATL E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Gene Family in Grapevine

Published on: December 22, 2017

What is a gene? An updated operational definition.

Graziano Pesole1

  • 1Dipartimento di Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare E. Quagliariello, Università di Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy. graziano.pesole@biologia.uniba.it

Gene
|May 7, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Defining a eukaryotic gene is essential for genome annotation. Recent genomic and transcriptomic data reveal novel gene features, leading to an updated operational definition based on regulatory elements and functional products.

More Related Videos

Exploring the Effects of Spaceflight on Mouse Physiology using the Open Access NASA GeneLab Platform
11:08

Exploring the Effects of Spaceflight on Mouse Physiology using the Open Access NASA GeneLab Platform

Published on: January 13, 2019

Gene Digital Circuits Based on CRISPR-Cas Systems and Anti-CRISPR Proteins
10:46

Gene Digital Circuits Based on CRISPR-Cas Systems and Anti-CRISPR Proteins

Published on: October 18, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Comprehensive Workflow for the Genome-wide Identification and Expression Meta-analysis of the ATL E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Gene Family in Grapevine
10:40

Comprehensive Workflow for the Genome-wide Identification and Expression Meta-analysis of the ATL E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Gene Family in Grapevine

Published on: December 22, 2017

Exploring the Effects of Spaceflight on Mouse Physiology using the Open Access NASA GeneLab Platform
11:08

Exploring the Effects of Spaceflight on Mouse Physiology using the Open Access NASA GeneLab Platform

Published on: January 13, 2019

Gene Digital Circuits Based on CRISPR-Cas Systems and Anti-CRISPR Proteins
10:46

Gene Digital Circuits Based on CRISPR-Cas Systems and Anti-CRISPR Proteins

Published on: October 18, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Genomics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Bioinformatics

Background:

  • Accurate gene definition is critical for eukaryotic genome annotation.
  • Large-scale genomic and transcriptomic analyses have revealed complex gene features.
  • Existing gene definitions may not fully encompass these novel findings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose an updated operational definition of a eukaryotic gene.
  • To incorporate novel gene features identified through recent large-scale analyses.
  • To facilitate accurate gene counting and genome annotation.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of large-scale genomic and transcriptomic data.
  • Comparative genomics to identify conserved regulatory elements and functional products.
  • Development and refinement of an operational gene definition.

Main Results:

  • A novel operational definition for eukaryotic genes is proposed.
  • The definition emphasizes regulatory elements (promoters, distal elements) and functional products (proteins, non-coding RNAs).
  • It highlights the shared genetic information leading to these products from a single gene.

Conclusions:

  • The proposed definition is suitable for eukaryotic chromosomal genes.
  • This updated definition aids in comprehensive gene inventory and accurate genome annotation.
  • It provides a framework for answering fundamental questions about genome content, such as 'how many genes'.