phenetic

[fi-net-ik]

adjective

Biology.

1. pertaining to or based on the observable similarities and differences between organisms without regard to assumed genealogy.

Word History and Origins

Origin of phenetic¹

1960; phen- (extracted from phenotype, or directly from Greek phaínein “to show”; pheno- ) + -etic, perhaps on the model of phyletic or phylogenetic ( def. )

Example Sentences

We conclude that the currently available number of independent phenetic markers is too small, and within-population craniometric variation too large, to permit reliable reconstruction of the biological population affinities of Kennewick Man.

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