Genetic is an adjective relating to genes or heredity, or to the origin and development of something. In science, it describes factors inherited from parents; in other contexts it can refer to the origin or cause of traits or conditions. The term often appears in biology, medicine, and discussions about heredity, variation, and genetic engineering.
"The genetic basis of the disease was identified after extensive DNA analysis."
"Researchers studied the genetic differences between the two populations."
"A genetic predisposition does not guarantee that a condition will develop."
"Ethical considerations surround the use of genetic information in medicine."
Genetic comes from the late 19th century via New Latin geneticus, from Greek genetikos, meaning ‘origin, birth, or race,’ from genos ‘race, kind, birth’ and the root gen- ‘to beget, produce.’ The term first appeared in scientific literature to describe relationships pertaining to heredity and the genes. Its adoption into medical and biological vocabulary followed the rise of Mendelian genetics in the early 20th century, expanding to broader uses in developmental biology and genetics research. The word gained common use in the 1960s and 1970s as molecular biology advanced, and “genetic” began to describe anything influenced by inheritance, including genetic engineering, genetic tests, and genetic disorders. The pronunciation and spelling reflect its Greek origin (gen- + -ic), with the stress pattern shifting in different contexts as the term entered technical discourses and everyday language.
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Words that rhyme with "Genetic"
-tic sounds
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It is pronounced with stress on the second syllable: /dʒəˈnɛtɪk/ in US/UK, with a typical reduced first syllable /dʒə/ or /dʒɪ/ in connected speech. Start with a voiced postalveolar affricate /dʒ/ like 'jar,' then a schwa /ə/ (or /ɪ/ in faster speech) for the first syllable, followed by /ˈnɛ/ with a short 'e' as in 'net,' and end with /tɪk/. In careful speech, emphasize the second syllable to clearly distinguish from ‘genetic’ used as a compound (e.g., ‘genetic engineer’). Audio reference: listen to natural-speech samples on Pronounce or Forvo.
Common errors include compressing the first unstressed syllable too much (say /ˈdʒɛnɛtɪk/ instead of /dʒəˈnɛtɪk/), and misplacing the stress by saying /dʒəˈnɛtɪk/ with weak emphasis on the second syllable. Some speakers mispronounce the final /k/ as /t/ or omit the /ɪ/ before /k/, saying /ˈnɛtɪk/ or /ˈnɛkɪk/. To correct: keep the first syllable as a light schwa or /ɪ/ and deliver a distinct secondary stress on the second syllable. Practice with slow articulation and then speed up while maintaining syllable integrity.
In US/UK, /dʒəˈnɛtɪk/ with a reduced first syllable is common; rhoticity is not a major factor here, but American speakers may show more /ə/ reduction. In Australian English, /dʒɪˈnɛtɪk/ or /dʒəˈnɛtɪk/ with a lighter vowel in the first syllable can occur, and /ɪ/ vs /ə/ variation may appear in fast speech. All share the second-syllable stress, but vowel quality in the first vowel and the realization of /t/ can differ slightly due to vowel merging and tempo differences.
The difficulty lies in the two-syllable flow with the secondary stress on the second syllable and the first syllable’s potential vowel reduction. The /dʒ/ onset followed by a schwa or /ɪ/ can be tricky for non-native speakers, especially when trying to maintain clear /n/ and /t/ consonant timing before /ɪk/. Native rhythm requires keeping the stress on the second syllable and ensuring crisp /t/ and /k/ without adding a vowel between them.
The unique feature is the strong second-syllable stress and the clear /tɪk/ ending. Pronounce the middle /nɛ/ clearly, maintaining a short, crisp /t/ before the /ɪ/ and ending with /k/. In careful speech, avoid turning /ɪk/ into a diphthong; keep /ɪ/ and /k/ separate. IPA anchors: dʒəˈnɛtɪk; ensure the /t/ is released and not glottalized in the final cluster, which some speakers do in casual speech.
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