transgenics

American

[trans-jen-iks, tranz-] / trænsˈdʒɛn ɪks, trænz- /

noun

Biotechnology.

(used with a singular verb) the branch of biology concerned with the transfer of genes to other species.
(used with a plural verb) the techniques for creating organisms that have genes from other species.

transgenics British

/ ˌtrænzˈdʒɛnɪks /

noun

(functioning as singular) the branch of biology concerned with the transfer of genetic material from one species to another

"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

Etymology

Origin of transgenics

First recorded in 1985–90; trans- ( def. ) (in the sense “on the other side of”) + -gen(ic) ( def. ) + -ics ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A tenth of the money, a tenth the animals is what transgenics plus cloning could do for you.

From Nature • Jun. 28, 2016

Fahrenkrug’s technique does not involve transgenics, which results from moving genes from one species to another.

From Forbes • Apr. 30, 2013

The reports were liberally sprinkled with code words about designer animals, transgenics and Frankencows.

From Forbes • Apr. 30, 2013

"I'm very envious of the fact that mouse models have transgenics," says Buffenstein.

From Slate • Nov. 18, 2011

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023