POLYGENIC

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does polygenic mean? 

• POLYGENIC (adjective)
  The adjective POLYGENIC has 1 sense:

1. of or relating to an inheritable character that is controlled by several genes at once; of or related to or determined by polygenes

  Familiarity information: POLYGENIC used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• POLYGENIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Similar:

heritable; inheritable (capable of being inherited)

Domain category:

genetic science; genetics (the branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms)

Derivation:

polygene (a gene that by itself has little effect on the phenotype but which can act together with others to produce observable variations)

 Context examples 

Heart disease is a so-called ‘polygenic’ disease – in other words, it is caused not by a single genetic variant, but rather by a large number of genes, each increasing an individual’s chances of developing heart disease by a small amount.

(Inflammation links heart disease and depression, University of Cambridge)