heritability

[/ˌherɪtəˈbɪləti/]
nounfemininepl: heritabilities
hereditariedade
1. the quality or state of being inheritable; capable of being inherited or passed down through generations
The heritability of eye color is very high.
A hereditariedade da cor dos olhos é muito alta.
2. in genetics and statistics, the proportion of variation in a trait within a population that is due to genetic variation rather than environmental factors
Twin studies help researchers estimate the heritability of intelligence.
Estudos com gêmeos ajudam os pesquisadores a estimar a hereditariedade da inteligência.
3. the degree to which a characteristic can be transmitted from parent to offspring
Scientists debate the heritability of personality traits.
Os cientistas debatem a hereditariedade das características de personalidade.
This is primarily an academic and scientific term used in genetics, psychology, and behavioral sciences. It became more widely discussed in Brazil and Portugal during the 20th century with the advancement of genetics studies. The concept is often central to nature-versus-nurture debates in educational and social policy discussions in both Portuguese-speaking countries and the United States.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
inheritabilitygenetic transmissibilityhereditary nature
Antonyms / Antônimos
environmental determinationacquired characteristic

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
hereditariedade
standard term used in scientific and academic contexts
Portugal
hereditariedade
same as Brazilian Portuguese; also used in European scientific literature
Technical/Scientific
herdabilidade
anglicized term sometimes used in Brazilian genetics literature

Related Words

heritablehereditaryinheritancegeneticsphenotypegenotypetrait

Related Idioms & Phrases

high heritability
low heritability
heritability estimate
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