genetics
part of speech
noun (genetics, uncountable; takes a singular verb); adjective (genetic)
meaning for a pupil
1) Genetics is the science of how features, like eye colour, are passed from parents to children through genes. tree →
2) Someone's genetics are the genes they were born with, which affect how they grow and look. tree →
sense in the lessons
In science lessons genetics explains why children look a bit like their parents, why brothers and sisters are different, and how farmers breed plants and animals. Gregor Mendel studied pea plants in the 1860s and is called the father of genetics. DNA carries genes. Phrases: good genetics, genetic disease, genetic code.
examples
- Genetics is the study of how living things inherit features. tree →
- Mendel discovered rules of genetics by growing peas. tree →
- My red hair comes from genetics; both my grandads had it. tree →
- Genetics helps doctors understand some illnesses. tree →
- Farmers use genetics to breed cows that give more milk. tree →
- Scientists who study genetics are called geneticists. tree →
- Tall parents often have tall children because of genetics. tree →
note
Ends in -s but is one subject, like maths: «Genetics is interesting», not «are». The adjective is «genetic», as in «a genetic disease». Do not confuse with «generic», which means general. Features you learn, like speaking French, are not passed on by genetics.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «genetics» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.