This is the 11017th most frequent Russian word.
ген
Gene.
Used in the plural form to refer to inherited genetic traits related to athletic ability.
Мои родители передали мне сильные спортивные гены.
My parents passed strong athletic genes to me.
Used in the singular form to specify an individual genetic unit impacting phenotypic traits like eye color.
Ученые изучают ген, ответственный за цвет глаз.
Scientists study the gene responsible for eye color.
Generalized reference to genes as the biological mechanism for hereditary characteristics.