unit character

American  

noun

Genetics.

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

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unit character British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of unit character

First recorded in 1905–10

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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

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 Thorstein Veblen

How can one speak of a unit character, when the "unit" has an infinite number of values?

From Applied Eugenics by Paul Popenoe

It is a good example of a unit character.

From Applied Eugenics by Paul Popenoe

Why is there such variation in the results produced by a unit character?

From Applied Eugenics by Paul Popenoe

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