Relating to genes or heredity; transmitted from parent to offspring through DNA.
From Greek 'genesis' meaning origin or creation, combined with the suffix '-ic'. The term was coined in the early 20th century as the science of heredity developed, building on Mendel's work with inheritance patterns.
The word 'genetic' didn't exist until 1905, even though humans had been observing heredity for millennia. Interestingly, we now know that genetic expression can be influenced by environment and experience, making the nature vs. nurture debate more nuanced than ever.
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