unit character

American  

noun

Genetics.

1. a characteristic, usually controlled by a single gene, that is transmitted as a unit in heredity.

---

unit character British  

noun

1. genetics a character inherited as a single unit and dependent on a single gene

---

Etymology

Origin of unit character

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

unit character

Other decals boasted unit character through their fearsome, comical or fanciful logos: thunderbirds, doves, seahorses, wolves, warthogs, lions, tigers, bears, cobras, elephants, alligators, sharks.

From New York Times ● Jul. 20, 2012

It is a good example of a unit character.

From Applied Eugenics by Popenoe, Paul

The reckless use of the phrase "unit character" has done much to mislead the uninitiated as to the effects that a single change in the germ plasm may produce on the organism.

From A Critique of the Theory of Evolution by Morgan, Thomas Hunt

There may be slight individual differences, but each unit character will become opposed to, and united with, the same unit-character in the other parent.

From Species and Varieties, Their Origin by Mutation by Vries, Hugo de

The patriotic frame of mind has been spoken of above as if it were an hereditary trait, something after the fashion of a Mendelian unit character.

From An Inquiry Into The Nature Of Peace And The Terms Of Its Perpetuation by Veblen, Thorstein