polygenic
adjective
poly·gen·ic
ˌpä-lē-ˈje-nik 
-ˈjē-
-ˈjē-
: of, relating to, mediated by, or constituting polygenes : involving two or more nonallelic genes collectively in determining inherited characteristics : multifactorial sense 1
polygenic inheritance
polygenic traits
Others think the allergic state is polygenic: transmitted by a number of genes whose combined expression is necessary to make a person allergic.—
Paul D. Buisseret
Paul D. BuisseretExamples of polygenic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But the clinical value of polygenic risk scores for even straightforward medical conditions like asthma and stroke remains highly dubious.
—Arthur Caplan & James Tabery, Scientific American, 28 July 2025
From the dataset, the researchers were able to create what’s known as a polygenic risk score, which takes into account which genetic variants a person has that have been linked to a higher BMI in adulthood.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 21 July 2025
This confirmed that obesity is highly polygenic, meaning more than a single gene plays some sort of role in the process.
—New Atlas, 21 July 2025
Most traits and diseases of interest are polygenic.
—Kermit Pattison, Scientific American, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for polygenic
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Arthur Caplan & James Tabery, Scientific American, 28 July 2025
From the dataset, the researchers were able to create what’s known as a polygenic risk score, which takes into account which genetic variants a person has that have been linked to a higher BMI in adulthood.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 21 July 2025
This confirmed that obesity is highly polygenic, meaning more than a single gene plays some sort of role in the process.
—New Atlas, 21 July 2025
Most traits and diseases of interest are polygenic.
—Kermit Pattison, Scientific American, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for polygenic
Cite this Entry
“Polygenic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polygenic. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
polygenic
adjective
poly·gen·ic
ˌpäl-i-ˈjēn-ik
-ˈjen-ik
-ˈjen-ik
: of, relating to, or resulting from polygenes : multifactorial
a polygenic disorder
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