Medical Genetics Terms

noun the passing on of physical or mental characteristics genetically from one generation to another

adjective hereditary

• The study of heredity is crucial in understanding how traits are passed down from one generation to the next.
• My family has a history of heart disease, so I'm always mindful of my heredity when it comes to my health.
• I got my curly hair from my mom, it's all in the heredity.
• Just like how we inherit physical traits from our parents, we also inherit certain personality traits through heredity.

noun a record of descent from one's ancestors; the history or lineage of a person or family

adjective of purebred or high-quality ancestry

• The dog's pedigree can be traced back several generations.
• I heard that new restaurant has a pedigree chef from a Michelin-starred establishment.
• That car may not look like much, but it's got some serious pedigree under the hood.
• His pedigree in the industry is unmatched, making him the top choice for the promotion.

noun a chromosome that is acrocentric

adjective describing a chromosome in which the centromere is located near one end

• The acrocentric chromosome has its centromere near one end.
• I learned about acrocentric chromosomes in my biology class.
• That chromosome looks kinda acrocentric, don't you think?
• Her acrocentric personality always puts her at the center of attention.

noun a shortened form of the word 'accounting'

• The scientist analyzed the DNA sequences using the four nucleotide bases: adenine, cytosine, thymine, and guanine (ACTG).
• I learned in biology class that DNA is made up of ACTG.
• My friend said he can't remember the order of ACTG in DNA, so he made up a funny acronym to help him remember.
• In the world of genetics, each letter in ACTG represents a key to unlocking the mysteries of life.