Definitions for genetics
dʒəˈnɛt ɪksge·net·ics

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:2.5 / 4 votes

1. genetics, genetic sciencenoun

   the branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms

WiktionaryRate this definition:3.6 / 5 votes

1. geneticsnoun

   The branch of biology that deals with the transmission and variation of inherited characteristics, in particular chromosomes and DNA.

2. geneticsnoun

   The genetic makeup of a specific individual or species.

3. Etymology: γένεσις. Ultimately from γίγνομαι.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Genetics

   Genetics is the study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in organisms. It is an important branch in biology because heredity is vital to organisms' evolution. Gregor Mendel, a Moravian Augustinian friar working in the 19th century in Brno, was the first to study genetics scientifically. Mendel studied "trait inheritance", patterns in the way traits are handed down from parents to offspring over time. He observed that organisms (pea plants) inherit traits by way of discrete "units of inheritance". This term, still used today, is a somewhat ambiguous definition of what is referred to as a gene. Trait inheritance and molecular inheritance mechanisms of genes are still primary principles of genetics in the 21st century, but modern genetics has expanded to study the function and behavior of genes. Gene structure and function, variation, and distribution are studied within the context of the cell, the organism (e.g. dominance), and within the context of a population. Genetics has given rise to a number of subfields, including molecular genetics, epigenetics and population genetics. Organisms studied within the broad field span the domains of life (archaea, bacteria, and eukarya). Genetic processes work in combination with an organism's environment and experiences to influence development and behavior, often referred to as nature versus nurture. The intracellular or extracellular environment of a living cell or organism may increase or decrease gene transcription. A classic example is two seeds of genetically identical corn, one placed in a temperate climate and one in an arid climate (lacking sufficient waterfall or rain). While the average height of the two corn stalks may be genetically determined to be equal, the one in the arid climate only grows to half the height of the one in the temperate climate due to lack of water and nutrients in its environment.

FreebaseRate this definition:4.3 / 4 votes

1. Genetics

   Genetics, a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms. Genetics deals with the molecular structure and function of genes, gene behavior in the context of a cell or organism, patterns of inheritance from parent to offspring, and gene distribution, variation and change in populations, such as through Genome-Wide Association Studies. Given that genes are universal to living organisms, genetics can be applied to the study of all living systems, from viruses and bacteria, through plants and domestic animals, to humans. The fact that living things inherit traits from their parents has been used since prehistoric times to improve crop plants and animals through selective breeding. However, the modern science of genetics, which attempts to understand the process of inheritance, only began with the work of Gregor Mendel in the mid-19th century. Although he did not know the physical basis for heredity, Mendel observed that organisms inherit traits by way of discrete units of inheritance, which are now called genes.

U.S. National Library of MedicineRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Genetics

   The branch of science concerned with the means and consequences of transmission and generation of the components of biological inheritance. (Stedman, 26th ed)

How to pronounce genetics?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say genetics in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of genetics in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of genetics in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of genetics in a Sentence

1. Mohammed Ahmednoor:

   This is a long term loss given that genetics studies and research which were significant investment into the area by researchers, has now gone to the drain. Further to this The Kenya Wildlife Service was in a big boost to tourism in the area.

2. Evan Eichler:

   It took 20-plus years, but we finally got it done, this is the beginning of something really fantastic for the field of human genetics.

3. Though Cara:

   According to Prof Betz's team at the Institute for Human Genetics, the syndrome is caused by a mutation to one of three genes - PADI3, TGM3 and TCHH. (SWNS.com) Taylor was born with no hair but began sprouting tufts of soft baby fuzz when she was around five months old. Rather than falling out and growing back straight and brown, like her parents' hair, Taylor's bright blond locks grew and grew. At one point we had a chat with my mother-in-law who said, 'There is a photo on the internet that looks like Taylor,'.

4. May Sarton:

   A man with a talent does what is expected of him, makes his way, constructs, is an engineer, a composer, a builder of bridges. It's the natural order of things that he construct objects outside himself and his family. The woman who does so is aberrant. We have to expiate for this cursed talent someone handed out to us, by mistake, in the black mystery of genetics.

5. Amy Janes:

   Factors like genetics, duration of exposure to tobacco, stress, other drug use, and psychiatric or medical disorders can affect treatment success, the effectiveness of a specific treatment may depend on individual differences in factors like brain function and communication between brain regions.

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