oligogenic
|o-li-go-gen-ic|
🇺🇸
/ˌoʊlɪdʒəˈdʒɛnɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌɒlɪdʒəˈdʒɛnɪk/
caused by few genes
Etymology
'oligogenic' originates from Greek, specifically the prefix 'oligo-' from 'oligos' meaning 'few' and the combining element '-genic' from 'gen- / genos' meaning 'birth, origin' or 'producing.'
'oligogenic' was formed in modern scientific/Neo-Latin coinage from the Greek elements 'oligo-' + '-genic' (often rendered in New Latin as 'oligogenicus' or similar) and later entered English usage in genetics and medical literature as 'oligogenic'.
Initially the elements meant 'few' (oligo-) and 'producing/originating' (-genic); over time the compound came to be used specifically in genetics to mean 'caused by or involving a small number of genes.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to or caused by the action of a small number of genes (rather than a single gene or many genes); involving interactions among a few genes in producing a trait or disease.
The researchers concluded that the condition is oligogenic, with several genes interacting to influence disease risk.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/18 06:55