Gene symbol
Symbols of human genes designated by scientists who discovered the genes using the guidelines developed by the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee. These symbols generally consist of not more than six upper case letters or a combination of uppercase letters and Arabic numbers. Gene symbols start with the first letters of the gene name such as INS for the insulin gene.

Gene therapy
The treatment of inherited diseases by introducing into the cells of affected patients the wild-type (functional) copy of the defective gene that has caused the disorder. If reproductive calls are modified, it is referred to as germ-line or heritable gene therapy. If nonreproductive (somatic) cells are modified, the procedure is termed somatic-cell or non-inheritable gene therapy.

Gene shaving
A statistical method that identifies subsets of genes with coherent expression patterns and large variation across conditions.

Gene shears
See ribozyme.

Gene silencing
The turning off of a gene. This can occur at the RNA level by antisense RNA or RNA interference. See antisense and RNA interference.

General recombination
Recombination that takes place between homologous chromosomes at homologous sites.

General transcription factors
Proteins whose assembly around the TATA box is required for the initiation of transcription of eukaryotic genes.

Generalised transduction
The process by which any bacterial gene and any region of the chromosomes is transferred by lytic phages.

Generally Regarded as Sage (GRAS)
A designation given in the US to foods, drugs, and other substances that are used for long periods of time without causing any illness to humans, even though they have not been tested for toxicity. Some host organisms used in recombinant DNA experiments have also been given this status.

Generation time
The time taken for a population of single-celled organisms to double its cell number.

Genes
A database that stores functional information about genes and their products.

Genetic algorithm
A search algorithm inspired by the principles of evolution that searches through a population of initial solutions encoded by applying a predefined fitness measurement to each solution and selecting those with the highest fitness for reproduction. New solutions can be generated during this phase by crossover and mutation operations, defined in the encoded solutions. These are used in molecular simulations such as docking and folding of proteins.

Genetic code
The sequence of triplet nucleotides (codons) on the mRNA which determines the sequence of amino acids in a protein. The set of 64 codons that code for all the 20 amino acids and the three termination codons.

The genetic  code