polygene

[ pol-ee-jeen ]

/ ˈpɒl iˌdʒin /

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noun Genetics

one of a group of nonallelic genes that together control a quantitative characteristic in an organism.

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Also called multiple factor, quantitative gene .

Origin of polygene

1940–45; back formation from polygenic;see poly-, gene, -ic

OTHER WORDS FROM polygene

pol·y·gen·ic

[pol-ee-jen-ik], /ˌpɒl iˈdʒɛn ɪk/, adjective

Words nearby polygene

polygamic, polygamist, polygamophile, polygamous, polygamy, polygene, polygenesis, polygenetic, polygenic, polygenic inheritance, polygenism

British Dictionary definitions for polygene

polygene

/ (ˈpɒlɪˌdʒiːn) /

noun

any of a group of genes that each produce a small quantitative effect on a particular characteristic of the phenotype, such as height

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012