genetic

Etymology

From Ancient Greek γένεσις (génesis, “origin”). Ultimately from γίγνομαι (gígnomai, “I come into being”).

Pronunciation

• enPR: jə-nĕt'ĭk, IPA^(key): [d͡ʒəˈnetɪk], [d͡ʒɪˈnetɪk]
• Rhymes: -ɛtɪk

Adjective

genetic (not comparable)

1. (genetics) Relating to genetics or genes.
   • 2013 May-June, David Van Tassel, Lee DeHaan, “Wild Plants to the Rescue”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3:

     Plant breeding is always a numbers game. […] The wild species we use are rich in genetic variation, and individual plants are highly heterozygous and do not breed true. In addition, we are looking for rare alleles, so the more plants we try, the better.

2. Caused by genes.
3. Of or relating to origin (genesis).
   • 1858, Year-Book Of Facts In Science And Art For 1858

     All evidence tends to this conclusion, that the sun is the prime genetic agent of earthquakes and of every other pluto-dynamic impulse which acts against the crust of the planet, and breaks or elevates any of its parts.

4. (linguistics) Based on shared membership in a linguistic family.

   Chinese has borrowed several words from English, but it does not have a genetic relationship to English.

5. (theology) Based on a shared membership in a religious family.

   Many Jews, Christians, and Muslims don’t get along despite their faiths’ genetic relationship.

Further reading

• "genetic" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 142.

Etymology

French génétique

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [d͡ʒeˈne.tik]

Adjective

genetic m, n (feminine singular genetică, masculine plural genetici, feminine and neuter plural genetice)

1. genetic