her·i·ta·bil·i·ty
| \ ˌher-ə-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē
, ˌhe-rə- \
, ˌhe-rə- \
Definition of heritability
1
: the quality or state of being heritable
2
: the proportion of observed variation in a particular trait (such as height) that can be attributed to inherited genetic factors in contrast to environmental ones
Examples of heritability in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That’s on par with the heritability of cognitive traits like IQ in people, MacLean says.
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David Grimm, Science | AAAS, 17 Mar. 2021
The mystery of missing heritability dates back to the late-2000s, when researchers began to use new tools to scan human genomes for common markers linked to diseases and traits.
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Jocelyn Kaiser, Science | AAAS, 3 Nov. 2020
Susan Kay Murphy, an epigeneticist who studies gynecological malignancies at the Duke University Medical Center, is currently focused on the effects of cannabis exposure on sperm, and their heritability.
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Meredith Wadman, Science | AAAS, 31 July 2020
McLean says dog breeds may be an ideal way to study the heritability of cognitive traits because breeds—all part of the same species—represent close genetic relatives with an incredibly diverse range of appearances and behaviors.
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Viviane Callier, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 July 2020
Though their heritability varies, the traits, if already present in the DNA, are more likely to be expressed if the person suffers abuse in their earliest years.
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Ashley Lee, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2020
Since then, studies have shown autism runs in families and have put its heritability at around 80 percent, or about as heritable as height or eye color.
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Nicholette Zeliadt, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2020
Researchers in Sweden and Minnesota had compared anorexia rates in identical and fraternal twins, a common approach to tease out heritability of complex traits and diseases.
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Jennifer Couzin-frankel, Science | AAAS, 9 Apr. 2020
Equation 1 summarizes a vast amount of literature on subjective well-being, starting with the question of the heritability of happiness.
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Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'heritability.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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“Heritability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heritability. Accessed 17 Jun. 2021.
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More Definitions for heritability
heritability
noun
her·i·ta·bil·i·ty
| \ ˌher-ət-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē
\
\
plural heritabilities
Medical Definition of heritability
1
: the quality or state of being heritable
2
: the proportion of observed variation in a particular trait (as intelligence) that can be attributed to inherited genetic factors in contrast to environmental ones
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Time Traveler for heritability
The first known use of heritability was in 1832
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