Genetics
Gene
A sequence of DNA that encodes instructions for building a specific protein or RNA molecule. Genes are the basic units of heredity, passed from parents to offspring.
Biological Context
The human genome contains about 20,000 protein-coding genes. Gene expression—which genes are active—varies by cell type and conditions. Mutations in genes can alter protein function, sometimes beneficially, sometimes harmfully.
Business Application
Business genes: the replicable instructions that encode organizational capabilities. Standard operating procedures, training programs, and institutional knowledge are corporate genes—information that can be copied and transmitted to new contexts.