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While every living organism has a genome of some kind (be it RNA, or DNA), there is considerable variation in the sizes of these blueprints. One major factor that impacts genome size is whether the organism is prokaryotic or eukaryotic. In prokaryotes, the genome contains little to no non-coding sequence, such that genes are tightly clustered in groups or operons sequentially along the chromosome. Conversely, the genes in eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of non-coding sequence.
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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.
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What is a gene? - Revisited.

Raphael Falk1

  • 1Department of Genetics and The Program for the History and Philosophy of Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel. rfalk@cc.huji.ac.il

Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences
|November 30, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The concept of the gene evolved from a simple unit of heredity to a complex DNA sequence. Modern research explores functional units, redefining the gene in integrated cellular systems.

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Area of Science:

  • Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • Philosophy of Science

Background:

  • The classical gene concept as a unit of heredity was simplified by the DNA molecular model.
  • This reductionist view faced challenges with the discovery of complex gene regulation within cellular systems.

Observation:

  • Defining a unified gene concept proved difficult due to differing experimental frameworks.
  • Researchers often used 'gene' as a generic term for empirical data, focusing on DNA sequences.

Findings:

  • The molecular definition of a gene as a DNA sequence determining function became dominant.
  • Recent empirical work revisits conceptual definitions, considering top-down functional units.

Implications:

  • This shift necessitates a re-evaluation of the gene's conceptualization in genetics.
  • Understanding functional genomic units offers new perspectives on cellular mechanisms and heredity.