polygene

[ pol-ee-jeen ]

noun

, Genetics

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

polygene

/ ˈpɒlɪˌdʒiːn /

noun

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

Other Words From

• pol·y·gen·ic [pol-ee-, jen, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of polygene¹

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