monogenic

[ mon-uh-jen-ik ]

adjective

1. Biology. bearing either only males or only females.
2. Genetics. pertaining to a character controlled by one pair of genes.

monogenic

/ ˌmɒnəʊˈdʒɛnɪk /

adjective

1. genetics of or relating to an inherited character difference that is controlled by a single gene
2. (of animals) producing offspring of one sex

Other Words From

• mono·geni·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of monogenic¹

1855–60; mono- + -gen or -gen(y) or gene + -ic

Example Sentences

Crispr gene editing has the potential to treat a myriad of monogenic diseases from sickle cell anaemia to muscular dystrophy and cancer.

From The Guardian

"For example, people carrying mutations giving high risk of certain diseases, and also monogenic conditions such as breast cancer mutations."

From BBC

Polygenic risk scores sum and weight these many tiny effects, creating what some researchers have called a “monogenic equivalent”— a “gene for” by proxy.

From Nature

More than 10,000 monogenic inherited disorders have been identified, affecting millions of people worldwide.

From Nature

The only exceptions to what is called “common obesity” — where many genes are involved in raising the risk of obesity — occur in what is known as “monogenic” obesity.

From Washington Post