Genes vs. Jeans

Photo of author

Grammarist

Genes are hereditary units composed of DNA that occupy fixed places on chromosomes. Genes carry hereditary traits that are passed on from parent to child. Wilhelm Johannsen, a Danish botanist, coined the term gene to describe the fundamental unit of heredity in 1909, from the German word Gen. Genes is the plural form, and the singular form is gene.

Jeans are trousers that are made of heavy cotton, usually denim. Most jeans are dyed a dark blue, and are called blue jeans. Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis patented blue jeans in 1873, the original blue jeans were intended for use by American miners because of the fabric’s extreme durability. Jeans and trousers are plural nouns, shortened from the terms a pair of jeans and a pair of trousers. When trousers were invented in Medieval times, they were constructed in two pieces, and therefore, were referred to in pairs. The origin of trousers lives on today in the plural linguistic quirk, though the singular word jean is often used as a modifier.

Examples

In an effort to nail these genes, a group of Indian and US scientists have set out to study 20 families from four communities -the Chettiar, Reddy, Aggarwal and Sikh Khatri -to find the genes that cause Type-2 diabetes. (The Times of India)

Ever since science has shown them to be the chemical code that builds bodies, genes are usually only associated with irrevocable maladies. (The Hindu)

While jeans and sneakers aren’t explicitly allowed for everyone, some employees will be allowed to wear them with approval from their managers. (The New York Post)

Susanne Hinte made a failed bid for the mega payout saying she believed she had put the winning ticket through the wash with a pair of jeans. (The Sun)

But the great thing about his jean jacket is that—unlike the aforementioned bleached hair or double-breasted tailoring—pretty much any guy can pull it off. (GQ Magazine)

Enjoyed reading about these homophones? Check out some others we covered: