polygene

[pol-ee-jeen]

noun Genetics

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

Origin of polygene

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

Also called multiple factor, quantitative gene.

Related formspol·y·gen·ic

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

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British Dictionary definitions for polygene

polygene

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

polygene in Medicine

polygene

[pŏl′ē-jēn′]

One of a group of nonallelic genes acting together to produce quantitative variations of a particular character.