CultureAugust 10, 2026

heritability

HER-ih-tuh-BIL-ih-tee

Definition

The proportion of observed variation in a particular trait or disorder within a population that can be attributed to inherited genetic factors.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'hereditas' meaning heirship or inheritance, it entered English in the 19th century to describe the quality of being transmissible from parent to offspring.

In the news

In this article, the term is used to describe how different genetic components contribute to the risk of developing Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). It highlights that MDD is not a uniform condition but has varying genetic foundations across its different subtypes.

AERS Subtypes Show Distinct Genetic Architecture in MDD

Read the full article ↗

HCPLive

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