Context: A broad operational definition is sometimes used to encompass the complexity of these diverse phenomena, where a gene is defined as a union of genomic sequences encoding a coherent set of potentially overlapping functional products. This definition categorizes genes by their functional products (proteins or RNA) rather than their specific DNA loci, with regulatory elements classified as gene-associated regions.

Question: What sort of definition can be used to conveniently encompass the complexity of diverse phenomena?
Answer: A broad operational definition

Question: What is the broad operational definition of a gene?
Answer: a union of genomic sequences encoding a coherent set of potentially overlapping functional products

Question: What does the typical definition of a gene categorize genes by?
Answer: their specific DNA loci

Question: What does the broad operational definition of gene categorize genes by?
Answer: their functional products (proteins or RNA)

Question: What does the broad operational definition of a gene classify as gene-associated regions?
Answer: regulatory elements