Reading Theme:
Genetic: Definition, Usage & Common Examples (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：hereditary or relating to genes (genetic)
genetic
/dʒəˈnet.ɪk/
adj./n.
Something that is passed from parents to children through genes.
hereditary or relating to genes
➕
/həˈred.ɪ.ter.i ɔːr rɪˈleɪ.tɪŋ tuː dʒiːnz/
adj./n.
Describes a characteristic, condition, or information that is inherited or determined by an organism's genes, passed down from parents to offspring.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From the Greek word 'genetikos', meaning 'genitive' or 'productive', which in turn comes from 'genesis' meaning 'origin' or 'birth'. The root 'gene-' relates to origin and production.
💡 Mnemonic
GENEtic starts with GENE, and your GENES determine your traits. Think of a gene ticket—your genetic code is your ticket inherited from your parents.
📖 Example
The doctor said my eye color is a genetic trait from my mother.
The doctor explained that my eye color is a hereditary characteristic I received from my mother.
🔗 Collocations
genetic code – the set of rules by which information encoded within DNA is translated into proteins
genetic material – the molecules such as DNA and RNA that carry genetic information
🔄 Synonyms
hereditary (adj.) – Passed down from one's parents or ancestors; biologically transmitted.
inherited (adj.) – Received from one's parents or predecessors through biological heredity.
🚫 Antonyms
acquired (adj.) – Gained or developed after birth, not inherited through genes.
📖 Cultural Story
The term 'genetic' originates from the Greek 'genetikos', via Latin and French. It entered English in the early 19th century primarily in biological contexts. Following the rediscovery of Mendel's work in the early 1900s, the word 'genetics' was coined (1905) to name the new science of heredity, solidifying 'genetic' as its core adjective. The completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003 propelled the word into everyday language, frequently used in discussions about health, ancestry, and personalized medicine.
Meaning 2：the science of heredity (genetic)
genetic
/dʒəˈnet.ɪk/
adj./n.
The science that studies how living things pass traits to their children.
the science of heredity
➕
/ðə ˈsaɪən.tɪ.fɪk fɪːld ɔːv həˈred.ɪ.ti/
adj./n.
Refers to the scientific field or the body of knowledge concerned with genes, heredity, and the variation of organisms.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
She is majoring in genetics at university because she wants to help prevent inherited diseases.
She is pursuing a university degree in the science of heredity, motivated by a desire to help prevent diseases that are passed down through families.
🔗 Collocations
study genetics – to engage in the academic or scientific learning of heredity and genes
genetics research – scientific investigation conducted within the field of genetics
🔄 Synonyms
heredity (n.) – The passing on of physical or mental characteristics genetically from one generation to another; the study of this process.
🌱 Derivatives
geneticist (n.) – A scientist who specializes in the study of genetics.
Wordbook
Your data is saved in this browser