protogene
noun
pro·to·gene
| \ ˈprōtə+ˌ-\
Definition of protogene
1
: a dominant gene or factor
2
[ International Scientific Vocabulary, from New Latin protogenes primeval, firstborn, from Greek prōtogenēs, from prōt- prot- + -genēs born ]
: a hypothetical mutable primary unit that is capable of reduplication, is held to have differentiated from nonliving matter, and is regarded as a precursor of living beings
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