DNA vs. Genes — What's the Difference?

DNA is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms.

Genes are units of heredity and are made up of DNA.

Changes in DNA can affect the organism’s development and functioning.

Genes are activated or deactivated depending on the needs of the cell.

DNA is replicated during cell division.

Genes are a focal point in genetic research and therapy.

DNA is composed of two strands forming a double helix.

They specify the synthesis of proteins that lead to various traits and functions.

It carries all the information required to build and maintain an organism.

Mutations in genes can lead to diseases.

Deoxyribonucleic acid, a self-replicating material which is present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information.

A hereditary unit consisting of a sequence of DNA that occupies a specific location on a chromosome and is transcribed into an RNA molecule that may function directly or be translated into an amino acid chain. Genes undergo mutation when their DNA sequences change.

A nucleic acid that carries the genetic information in cells and some viruses, consisting of two long chains of nucleotides twisted into a double helix and joined by hydrogen bonds between the complementary bases adenine and thymine or cytosine and guanine. DNA sequences are replicated by the cell prior to cell division and may include genes, intergenic spacers, and regions that bind to regulatory proteins.

Plural of gene

Alternative form of DNA

Abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid; - more commonly used than the full name. See also RNA.

(biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associated with the transmission of genetic information;

Mutations in genes can lead to changes in the protein that the gene codes for, which can cause various diseases or trait variations.

DNA is the molecule that contains the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms.

Genes are specific sequences of nucleotides within DNA that code for proteins or have specific regulatory functions.

DNA is passed from parents to offspring, carrying the genetic information that determines inherited traits.

DNA is the material that makes up genes, which are the specific sequences that encode functional products.

Yes, genes can be edited or manipulated through techniques like CRISPR to alter their function or correct genetic defects.

Environmental factors can activate or suppress the expression of genes, influencing an organism’s development and health.

Scientists use techniques like gene sequencing and functional genomics to study the structure and function of genes.

DNA provides the overall genetic blueprint, but specific genes interact to determine particular traits and susceptibility to diseases.

Genes contain the instructions for synthesizing proteins, which perform most life functions.

DNA profiling is used in forensics to identify individuals based on their unique genetic makeup.

A chromosome is a structure that contains DNA and many genes; a gene is a specific segment of that DNA that encodes a function.

Genes are central to evolutionary processes as they are the units of natural selection and mutation.

Gene therapy is a medical approach that involves modifying genes to treat or prevent diseases.

The human genome contains about 20,000-25,000 genes.