polygenic

adjective

poly·​gen·​ic ˌpä-lē-ˈje-nik  -ˈjē- 

: of, relating to, mediated by, or constituting polygenes : involving two or more nonallelic genes collectively in determining inherited characteristics : multifactorial sense 1

polygenic inheritance

polygenic traits

Others think the allergic state is polygenic: transmitted by a number of genes whose combined expression is necessary to make a person allergic.

—Paul D. Buisseret

Examples of polygenic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Since recruitment started in 2006, the data—which was used in more than 3,000 scientific papers published last year—has enabled innovations like the concept of the polygenic risk score, which measures the genetic risk of diseases. —TIME, 2 May 2024

What can a polygenic risk score tell you about your health? —Julia Ries, SELF, 15 Nov. 2023

The second bucket of tests are polygenic risk scores. —Julia Ries, SELF, 18 Oct. 2023

As Risch observes above intelligence is highly polygenic. —Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2013

Word History

Etymology

poly- + gene + -ic entry 1, after German polygen

Note: The term polygen was introduced by the German zoologist and social Darwinist Ludwig Plate (1862-1937) in Vererbungslehre, mit besonderer Berücksichtigung des Menschen (Leipzig, 1913), p. 75

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

polygenic

adjective

poly·​gen·​ic ˌpäl-i-ˈjēn-ik  -ˈjen-ik 

: of, relating to, or resulting from polygenes : multifactorial

a polygenic disorder

polygenically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb