A gene is a short piece of DNA. Genestells the body how to build a specific proteins. There are about 30,000 genes in each cell of the human body. Together, these genes make up the blueprint for the human body and how it works.
A person's genetic makeup is called a genotype.
Genes are made of DNA. Strands ofDNA strands make up part of your chromosomes. Chromosomes have matching pairs of one copy of a specific gene. The gene occurs in the same position on each chromosome.
Genetic traits, such as eye color, are dominant or recessive:
Many personal characteristics, such as height, are determined by more than one gene. However, some diseases, such as sickle cell anemia, can be caused by a change in a single gene.
Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc., Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, David R. Eltz, Stephanie Slon, and Nissi Wang.
Read more:
Genes: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia - National Library of ...
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