---
title: gene — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «gene» in the school dictionary: A gene is a tiny part of the DNA inside the cells of a living thing that carries instructions passed down from parents to children, such as for eye colour or the shape of a leaf. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# gene

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** gene, living thing, You, Genes, Tall parents, Scientists · **What happens:** be, carry, pass down, get, help, decide · **To what, where:** tiny part, cells, instructions, children, genes, eye colour

<!-- .vabout -->
«gene» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [gene in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/gene.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A gene is a tiny part of the DNA inside the cells of a living thing that carries instructions passed down from parents to children, such as for eye colour or the shape of a leaf.

<!-- fold The tree, 36 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gene:m1:1
# text = A gene is a tiny part of the DNA inside the cells of a living thing that carries instructions passed down from parents to children, such as for eye colour or the shape of a leaf.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gene	gene	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	DNA	DNA	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	cells	cell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	living	living	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	_
17	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	18	nsubj	_	_
18	carries	carry	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	acl:relcl	_	_
19	instructions	instruction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obj	_	_
20	passed	pass	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	19	acl	_	_
21	down	down	ADP	RP	_	20	compound:prt	_	_
22	from	from	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obl	_	_
24	to	to	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	31	punct	_	_
27	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	31	case	_	_
28	as	as	ADP	IN	_	27	fixed	_	_
29	for	for	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
30	eye	eye	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	31	compound	_	_
31	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	appos	_	_
32	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	34	cc	_	_
33	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	34	det	_	_
34	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	31	conj	_	_
35	of	of	ADP	IN	_	37	case	_	_
36	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	37	det	_	_
37	leaf	leaf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	34	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
38	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a gene | a tiny part |  | the cells of a living thing |  | of the DNA | tree rules |
| 2 | **carry** | present | a living thing | instructions | children |  |  | from parents | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location PP.destination»: agent=Agent instruction=Theme from parent=Initial\_Location to child=Destination |
| 3 | **pass down** | participle |  | instructions *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You get your genes from both your parents.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gene:x1:1
# text = You get your genes from both your parents.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	get	get	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	genes	gene	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det:predet	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | present | You | your genes |  |  |  | from your parents | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent gene=Theme from parent=Source |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Genes help decide your eye colour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gene:x2:1
# text = Genes help decide your eye colour.
1	Genes	gene	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	decide	decide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	eye	eye	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Genes |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **decide** | infinitive | Genes *not said here* | your eye colour |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent colour=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tall parents often have tall children because of their genes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gene:x3:1
# text = Tall parents often have tall children because of their genes.
1	Tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	often	often	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	10	case	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	genes	gene	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Tall parents | tall children |  |  |  | because parents's genes; often *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent child=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Every living thing has genes, even plants.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gene:x4:1
# text = Every living thing has genes, even plants.
1	Every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	det	_	_
2	living	living	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	genes	gene	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	even	even	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | every living thing | genes and plants |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gene=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists study genes to understand diseases.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gene:x5:1
# text = Scientists study genes to understand diseases.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	study	study	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	genes	gene	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	diseases	disease	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | present | Scientists | genes |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gene=Topic |
| 2 | **understand** | to-infinitive | Scientists *not said here* | diseases |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer disease=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Twins who are identical have the same genes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gene:x6:1
# text = Twins who are identical have the same genes.
1	Twins	twin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	identical	identical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	acl:relcl	_	_
5	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	genes	gene	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Twins |  |  |  |  | identical *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | Twins | the same genes |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gene=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It runs in the family, it must be in the genes!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gene:x7:1
# text = It runs in the family, it must be in the genes!
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	runs	run	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
8	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
9	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	cop	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	genes	gene	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | present | It |  |  | the family |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in family=Trajectory |
| 2 | **is** | must | family |  |  | the genes |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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