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Genetic

2 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means relating to genes or heredity

Where does the word "genetic" come from? It comes from Greek génesis, adopted directly into English (1905).

1
Stage 1 of 2
génesis
Greek · ancient
"origin"
'origin, birth'; the Greek Old Testament gave the name Genesis to the first book of the Bible
2
Stage 2 of 2
genetic, genetics
English · 1905
"science of heredity"
'genetic' (1830s) first meant 'relating to origins'; William Bateson proposed 'genetics' for the study of heredity in a letter of April 1905 to Adam Sedgwick, reviving Gregor Mendel's forgotten pea experiments
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Read the full story

Genetic’s story begins in Greek: génesis meant “origin.” 'origin, birth'; the Greek Old Testament gave the name Genesis to the first book of the Bible. It reached English by 1905 as genetic, genetics. 'genetic' (1830s) first meant 'relating to origins'; William Bateson proposed 'genetics' for the study of heredity in a letter of April 1905 to Adam Sedgwick, reviving Gregor Mendel's forgotten pea experiments. Today, genetic means relating to genes or heredity.