heritable characteristics like skin and eye and hair color
Recent Examples on the WebBut in the case of many conditions with a heritable aspect, the role of genetics is still too muddy to inform reputable decisions.WIRED, 25 Aug. 2022 But common heritable diseases, such as diabetes, are more genetically complex than the ones Anderson and her colleagues screened for and are much more difficult to understand, Kaelin explains. Fionna M. D. Samuels, Scientific American, 23 June 2022 For individuals with really bad numerical skills—those with dyscalculia—there also seems to be a significant heritable component. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 3 June 2022 The research focused on finding heritable differences in IQ and propensity to violence between racial groups. Janet D. Stemwedel, Scientific American, 24 May 2022 Physical traits are strongly heritable; behavioral traits, less so. Tribune News Service, oregonlive, 30 Apr. 2022 While some findings suggest behavior traits are heritable, the association between a breed and its behaviors is far less direct than the association between a breed and its aesthetic traits. Wes Siler, Outside Online, 24 May 2022 Physical traits are strongly heritable; behavioral traits, less so. Tribune News Service, oregonlive, 30 Apr. 2022 The team’s findings confirmed that some aspects of canine behavior do seem quite heritable—and sometimes even echo kennel-club dogma. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, from heriter "to inherit, make an heir" + -able-able — more at heritage