lethal gene
noun
: a gene that in some (such as homozygous) conditions may prevent development or cause the death of an organism or its germ cells
called also lethal factor, lethal mutant, lethal mutation
Examples of lethal gene in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There have been other attempts to check the growth of mosquito populations, including Sterile Insect Technique and insects carrying lethal genes (RIDL).
—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 8 Jan. 2025
Once mature, the GMO males mate with local wild females, passing along the lethal gene that makes their female offspring die.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 30 Apr. 2021
Oxitec researchers then developed a second-generation mosquito with the self-limiting lethal gene that would only last for a few generations.
—Eric Niiler, Wired, 24 Sep. 2020
But others are more inventive, even visionary: exploring new bacterial targets at which antibiotics might be aimed; finding drugs that stop plasmids from replicating; and designing Trojan-horse plasmids to sneak lethal genes into bacteria.
—Mark Caldwell, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Oxitec’s latest strain of GM mosquitoes is designed to spread the lethal gene more effectively.
—Kelly Servick, Science | AAAS, 17 Sep. 2019
The lethal gene kills the mosquito in two to three days.
—jsonline.com, 5 Oct. 2017
Shelton is releasing males carrying a lethal gene that eventually kills all female offspring.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2017
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Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 8 Jan. 2025
Once mature, the GMO males mate with local wild females, passing along the lethal gene that makes their female offspring die.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 30 Apr. 2021
Oxitec researchers then developed a second-generation mosquito with the self-limiting lethal gene that would only last for a few generations.
—Eric Niiler, Wired, 24 Sep. 2020
But others are more inventive, even visionary: exploring new bacterial targets at which antibiotics might be aimed; finding drugs that stop plasmids from replicating; and designing Trojan-horse plasmids to sneak lethal genes into bacteria.
—Mark Caldwell, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Oxitec’s latest strain of GM mosquitoes is designed to spread the lethal gene more effectively.
—Kelly Servick, Science | AAAS, 17 Sep. 2019
The lethal gene kills the mosquito in two to three days.
—jsonline.com, 5 Oct. 2017
Shelton is releasing males carrying a lethal gene that eventually kills all female offspring.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Lethal gene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lethal%20gene. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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