What are the main functions of a gene?
1 Answer
A gene is the basic physical and functional unit of heredity.
Explanation:
Functions of genes include:
1) genes are components of genetic materials and are thus units of inheritance.
2) they control the morphology or phenotypes of individual.
3) replication of genes is essential for cell division.
4) genes carry the hereditary information from one generation to another.
5) they control the structure and metabolism of the body.
6) different linkages are produced due to crossing over.
7) new genes and consequently new traits develop due to reshuffling of exons and introns.
8) genes undergo mutations and change their expression.
9) differentiation or formation of different types of cells, tissues and organs in various parts of the body is controlled by the expression and non expression of certain genes.
10) development and production of different stages in the life history is controlled by genes.
