heritability
Hereditary variance proportion
Heritability is the degree to which variation in a trait among individuals can be attributed to genetic differences rather than environment.
A heritability of 0.6 for height means 60% of height variation in a population is explained by genetic factors.
The concept is statistical—it applies to populations, not individuals, and can shift as environments change.
The heritability of intelligence remains contentious.
Units of heredity
- allelesVariant forms of genes
- genotypeOrganism's complete allele set
- phenotypeObservable characteristics of organism
- DNAHereditary code molecule
chromosomes · loci · polygenic · monogenic · genomics · recombination · mutation · linkage
Descent from progenitors
- pedigreeRecord of descent
- bloodlineAncestry through generations
- genealogyStudy of family descent
- generationalRelating to age groups
forebears · descendants · kinship · ancestral · parentage · consanguinity
Good physical shape
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- survivalRemaining alive against odds
- variationChange from a norm
- DarwinBritish naturalist, species theorist
Spread around the mean
- additiveSubstance mixed in
- environmentalOf natural surroundings
- correlationStatistical relationship measure
- regressionReturn to former state
familial · concordance · dizygotic · monozygotic · statistical · estimation · GWAS
Mental ability, cognitive capacity
- heightVertical extent upward
- temperamentInborn behavioral nature
- personalityCharacteristic mental patterns
- obesityExcess body fat condition
autism · schizophrenia · ADHD · longevity · handedness · alcoholism · depression · diabetes
genes
Units of heredity
- allelesVariant forms of genes
- genotypeOrganism's complete allele set
- phenotypeObservable characteristics of organism
DNA · chromosomes · loci · polygenic · monogenic · genomics · recombination · mutation · linkage · nucleotide
lineage
Descent from progenitors
generational · forebears · descendants · kinship · ancestral · parentage · consanguinity
fitness
Good physical shape
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- survivalRemaining alive against odds
- variationChange from a norm
Darwin · evolutionary · speciation · descent
variance
Spread around the mean
- additiveSubstance mixed in
- environmentalOf natural surroundings
- correlationStatistical relationship measure
regression · familial · concordance · dizygotic · monozygotic · statistical · estimation · GWAS
intelligence
Mental ability, cognitive capacity
- heightVertical extent upward
- temperamentInborn behavioral nature
- personalityCharacteristic mental patterns
obesity · autism · schizophrenia · ADHD · longevity · handedness · alcoholism · depression · diabetes · cardiovascular
- evolutionevolution, natural selection, mutation, adaptation, speciation
- hereditygenes, DNA, gene, chromosomes, genetics
- Human Developmentgrowth, heredity, aging, genetics, puberty
- geneticsDNA, allele, genotype, genes, gene
- Genetic Riskgenetic marker, genetic testing, genetic counseling, gene mutation, predisposition
- animal geneticsallele, chromosome, dominant gene, recessive gene, dominant traits
heritabilityenvironmental influence
How surroundings shape things
nurture · socialization · environmental factors · environment · learning
heritabilitymalleability
Capacity for deformation without breaking
plasticity · modifiability · learnability · trainability · adaptability
heritage, inherit, inheritance, inherited, inheritor, inheriting, inherits, disinherit, inheritors