A set of genes descended by duplication and variation from some ancestral gene. Such genes may be clustered together on the same chromosome or dispersed on different chromosomes. Examples of multigene families include those that encode the hemoglobins, immunoglobulins, histocompatibility antigens, actins, tubulins, keratins, collagens, heat shock proteins, salivary glue proteins, chorion proteins, cuticle proteins, yolk proteins, and phaseolins, as well as histones, ribosomal RNA, and transfer RNA genes. The latter three are examples of reiterated genes, where hundreds of identical genes are present in a tandem array. (King & Stanfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)

Descriptor ID	D005810
MeSH Number(s)	G05.360.340.024.340.645
Concept/Terms	Multigene Family Multigene Family Families, Multigene Family, Multigene Multigene Families Genes, Reiterated Genes, Reiterated Gene, Reiterated Reiterated Gene Reiterated Genes Gene Clusters Gene Clusters Cluster, Gene Clusters, Gene Gene Cluster

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more general than "Multigene Family".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is related to "Multigene Family".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more specific than "Multigene Family".