heritability
noun
her·i·ta·bil·i·ty
ˌher-ə-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 
ˌhe-rə-
1
: the quality or state of being heritable
2
: the proportion of observed variation in a particular trait (such as height) that can be attributed to inherited genetic factors in contrast to environmental ones
Examples of heritability in a Sentence
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Understanding a fly’s blueprint for heritability and how their brains are wired (all 139,255 neurons and their 54.5 million synapses) is a path to better understanding the natural world, including ourselves.
—
Barrett Klein, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Oct. 2024
Similarly, the high heritability of the 12-minute results don’t reflect the effects of, say, 100-mile weeks.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 14 Aug. 2024
For example, the study found that parents who have neurodevelopmental disorders — which have strong heritability — are also more likely to use pain medications, like acetaminophen, during pregnancy.
—Mira Cheng, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
The fact that the median trait value changed so much over the century and a half of the survey, combined with its heritability, allows one to infer that this shift was driven in part by natural selection.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2011
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Barrett Klein, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Oct. 2024
Similarly, the high heritability of the 12-minute results don’t reflect the effects of, say, 100-mile weeks.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 14 Aug. 2024
For example, the study found that parents who have neurodevelopmental disorders — which have strong heritability — are also more likely to use pain medications, like acetaminophen, during pregnancy.
—Mira Cheng, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
The fact that the median trait value changed so much over the century and a half of the survey, combined with its heritability, allows one to infer that this shift was driven in part by natural selection.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2011
See all Example Sentences for heritability
Dictionary Entries Near heritability
Cite this Entry
“Heritability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heritability. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
heritability
noun
her·i·ta·bil·i·ty
ˌher-ət-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē
plural heritabilities
1
: the quality or state of being heritable
2
: the proportion of observed variation in a particular trait (as intelligence) that can be attributed to inherited genetic factors in contrast to environmental ones
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