def __init__(self, dna, suppressed=False, name=None):
self._check_dna(dna)<EOL>self._dna = dna<EOL>self.suppressed = suppressed<EOL>self.name = name<EOL>
Construct a new BaseGene.

dna:  DNA string, which must only contain characters in ``GENETIC_MATERIAL_OPTIONS``
suppressed (default=False):  whether expression of this gene is suppressed somehow
                             (has no effect in this base class; may be useful in subclasses)
name (default=None):  optional name for this gene