GENETICS

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does genetics mean? 

• GENETICS (noun)
  The noun GENETICS has 1 sense:

1. the branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms

  Familiarity information: GENETICS used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GENETICS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

genetic science; genetics

Hypernyms ("genetics" is a kind of...):

biological science; biology (the science that studies living organisms)

Domain member category:

segregation ((genetics) the separation of paired alleles during meiosis so that members of each pair of alleles appear in different gametes)

transcription ((genetics) the organic process whereby the DNA sequence in a gene is copied into mRNA; the process whereby a base sequence of messenger RNA is synthesized on a template of complementary DNA)

replication ((genetics) the process whereby DNA makes a copy of itself before cell division)

meiosis; miosis; reduction division ((genetics) cell division that produces reproductive cells in sexually reproducing organisms; the nucleus divides into four nuclei each containing half the chromosome number (leading to gametes in animals and spores in plants))

expression ((genetics) the process of expressing a gene)

single nucleotide polymorphism; SNP ((genetics) genetic variation in a DNA sequence that occurs when a single nucleotide in a genome is altered; SNPs are usually considered to be point mutations that have been evolutionarily successful enough to recur in a significant proportion of the population of a species)

polymorphism ((genetics) the genetic variation within a population that natural selection can operate on)

position effect ((genetics) the effect on the expression of a gene that is produced by changing its location in a chromosome)

dominance (the organic phenomenon in which one of a pair of alleles present in a genotype is expressed in the phenotype and the other allele of the pair is not)

saltation ((genetics) a mutation that drastically changes the phenotype of an organism or species)

reversion ((genetics) a return to a normal phenotype (usually resulting from a second mutation))

gene mutation; point mutation ((genetics) a mutation due to an intramolecular reorganization of a gene)

insertional mutagenesis ((genetics) a mutation caused by the insertion of exogenous DNA into a genome)

transposition ((genetics) a kind of mutation in which a chromosomal segment is transfered to a new position on the same or another chromosome)

triploid (of a cell or organism having three complete sets of chromosomes)

filial (designating the generation or the sequence of generations following the parental generation)

parental (designating the generation of organisms from which hybrid offspring are produced)

multivalent (used of the association of three or more homologous chromosomes during the first division of meiosis)

bivalent; double (used of homologous chromosomes associated in pairs in synapsis)

univalent (used of a chromosome that is not paired or united with its homologous chromosome during synapsis)

polygenic (of or relating to an inheritable character that is controlled by several genes at once; of or related to or determined by polygenes)

monogenic (of or relating to an inheritable character that is controlled by a single pair of genes)

heterozygous (having dissimilar alleles at corresponding chromosomal loci)

homozygous (having identical alleles at corresponding chromosomal loci)

recombination ((genetics) a combining of genes or characters different from what they were in the parents)

polyploid (of a cell or organism having more than twice the haploid number of chromosomes)

diploid (of a cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes or twice the haploid number)

haploid; haploidic; monoploid (of a cell or organism having a single set of chromosomes)

recessive ((of genes) producing its characteristic phenotype only when its allele is identical)

dominant ((of genes) producing the same phenotype whether its allele is identical or dissimilar)

translate (determine the amino-acid sequence of a protein during its synthesis by using information on the messenger RNA)

translocation ((genetics) an exchange of chromosome parts)

translation ((genetics) the process whereby genetic information coded in messenger RNA directs the formation of a specific protein at a ribosome in the cytoplasm)

transduction ((genetics) the process of transfering genetic material from one cell to another by a plasmid or bacteriophage)

polyploid ((genetics) an organism or cell having more than twice the haploid number of chromosomes)

gene linkage; linkage ((genetics) traits that tend to be inherited together as a consequence of an association between their genes; all of the genes of a given chromosome are linked (where one goes they all go))

heterosis; hybrid vigor ((genetics) the tendency of a crossbred organism to have qualities superior to those of either parent)

hereditary pattern; inheritance ((genetics) attributes acquired via biological heredity from the parents)

unit character ((genetics) a character inherited on an all-or-none basis and dependent on the presence of a single gene)

character ((genetics) an attribute (structural or functional) that is determined by a gene or group of genes)

cosmid ((genetics) a large vector that is made from a bacteriophage and used to clone genes or gene fragments)

vector ((genetics) a virus or other agent that is used to deliver DNA to a cell)

cross; crossbreed; hybrid ((genetics) an organism that is the offspring of genetically dissimilar parents or stock; especially offspring produced by breeding plants or animals of different varieties or breeds or species)

fertilized ovum; zygote ((genetics) the diploid cell resulting from the union of a haploid spermatozoon and ovum (including the organism that develops from that cell))

heteroploid ((genetics) an organism or cell having a chromosome number that is not an even multiple of the haploid chromosome number for that species)

haploid ((genetics) an organism or cell having only one complete set of chromosomes)

diploid ((genetics) an organism or cell having the normal amount of DNA per cell; i.e., two sets of chromosomes or twice the haploid number)

amphidiploid ((genetics) an organism or cell having a diploid set of chromosomes from each parent)

carrier ((genetics) an organism that possesses a recessive gene whose effect is masked by a dominant allele; the associated trait is not apparent but can be passed on to offspring)

chromosome mapping; mapping ((genetics) the process of locating genes on a chromosome)

cross; crossbreeding; crossing; hybridisation; hybridization; hybridizing; interbreeding ((genetics) the act of mixing different species or varieties of animals or plants and thus to produce hybrids)

inversion ((genetics) a kind of mutation in which the order of the genes in a section of a chromosome is reversed)

heterozygote ((genetics) an organism having two different alleles of a particular gene and so giving rise to varying offspring)

homozygote ((genetics) an organism having two identical alleles of a particular gene and so breeding true for the particular characteristic)

cistron; factor; gene ((genetics) a segment of DNA that is involved in producing a polypeptide chain; it can include regions preceding and following the coding DNA as well as introns between the exons; it is considered a unit of heredity)

allele; allelomorph ((genetics) either of a pair (or series) of alternative forms of a gene that can occupy the same locus on a particular chromosome and that control the same character)

haplotype ((genetics) a combination of alleles (for different genes) that are located closely together on the same chromosome and that tend to be inherited together)

XX ((genetics) normal complement of sex chromosomes in a female)

XXX ((genetics) abnormal complement of three X chromosomes in a female)

XXY ((genetics) abnormal complement of sex hormones in a male resulting in Klinefelter's syndrome)

XY ((genetics) normal complement of sex hormones in a male)

XYY ((genetics) abnormal complement of sex hormones in a male who has two Y chromosomes)

sex chromosome ((genetics) a chromosome that determines the sex of an individual)

Mendel's law ((genetics) one of two principles of heredity formulated by Gregor Mendel on the basis of his experiments with plants; the principles were limited and modified by subsequent genetic research)

transformation ((genetics) modification of a cell or bacterium by the uptake and incorporation of exogenous DNA)

chromosomal mutation; genetic mutation; mutation ((genetics) any event that changes genetic structure; any alteration in the inherited nucleic acid sequence of the genotype of an organism)

deletion ((genetics) the loss or absence of one or more nucleotides from a chromosome)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "genetics"):

cytogenetics (the branch of biology that studies the cellular aspects of heredity (especially the chromosomes))

genomics (the branch of genetics that studies organisms in terms of their genomes (their full DNA sequences))

proteomics (the branch of genetics that studies the full set of proteins encoded by a genome)

molecular genetics (the branch of genetics concerned with the structure and activity of genetic material at the molecular level)

pharmacogenetics (the branch of genetics that studies the genetically determined variations in responses to drugs in humans or laboratory organisms)

Derivation:

genetic; genetical (of or relating to the science of genetics)

geneticist (a biologist who specializes in genetics)

 Context examples 

The Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG) is the primary focus within the National Cancer Institute for population based research on environmental and genetics determinants of cancer.

(Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, NCI Thesaurus)

Energy balance is affected by physical activity, body size, amount of body fat and muscle, and genetics.

(Energy balance, NCI Dictionary)

Basic research in the field of genetics.

(Experimental Genetics, NCI Thesaurus)

The genetics of extra-nuclear DNA, eg.

(Extra-Nuclear Genetics, NCI Thesaurus)

Branch of genetics primarily concerned with how genes control or regulate differentiation and growth.

(Developmental Genetics, NIH CRISP Thesaurus)

The process by which a person is tested and approved to practice in the specialty field of clinical genetics.

(Clinical Genetics Board Certification, NCI Thesaurus)

It sometimes runs in families, so genetics may be a factor.

(Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, NIH: National Institute of Mental Health)

A branch of genetics which deals with the chemical structure of the genes and with the mechanisms by which the genes control and regulate the structure and synthesis of proteins.

(Biochemical Genetics, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

Information may come from many sources, including patient statistics, tissue specimens, genetics research, and clinical trials.

(Bioinformatics, NCI Dictionary)

A correlation between obesity and genetics has been found to be modified by diet.

(International Research Team Finds Correlation Between Genetics and Obesity Is Modified by Diet, U.S. Department of Agriculture)