Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
👶 Not by parents 🧬 Not from parents
nonparental

nonparental

8.1
A trait in offspring that is different from both parents
  • adjective
  • /nɑnˈpɛrəntəl/
  • Specialized
: no parental
  • The scientist identified a nonparental trait in the offspring that was absent in both parents.

Examples

  • A nonparental phenotype can result from genetic recombination during meiosis.

  • Genetic analysis revealed several nonparental combinations among the experimental plants.

  • The child displayed a nonparental trait that surprised the researchers.

  • Is this a nonparental characteristic?

  • The scientist identified a nonparental trait in the offspring that was absent in both parents.

  • Genetic analysis revealed several nonparental combinations among the experimental plants.

  • The child displayed a nonparental trait that surprised the researchers.

Synonyms

nongenetic
vsnonparental
  • Specialized
1 6.5

Not caused by genes but by things like the environment or experience

concerns traits that differ from both parents not just genetic cause
noninheritable
vsnonparental
1 8.2

Not able to be passed down from parents to children

describes a trait that differs from both parents rather than transmission
nonbiological
vsnonparental
1 5.8

A person who is not related by birth, for example an adopted or step family member

focuses on traits being different from both parents not family ties
nonheritable
vsnonparental
  • Specialized
1 7.8

A disease or trait that parents cannot pass to their children through genes

focuses on the trait being different from both parents not the mechanism
nonhereditary
vsnonparental
  • Specialized
1 6.9

Does not pass from parents to children through genes

refers to traits differing from both parents rather than medical conditions
nonfamilial
vsnonparental
  • Specialized
8.1

Does not come from parents

refers specifically to traits differing from both parents rather than family patterns

Antonyms

parental
146 3.4

About a mother or father, including their duties

How Inherited

hereditary
  • Specialized
29 5.1
parental
  • Specialized
1 3.5
nonparental
  • Specialized
8.1

Surface Forms

nonparental positive

Morphology

nonparental = parental (transparent) = non + parent + al

The negating prefix 'non-' attaches to the adjective 'parental' in a regular, productive way to mean 'not parental'.

Etymology

Nonparental comes from the prefix non- meaning 'not' and parental from parent meaning 'mother or father'. So in genetics it is a handy word for a trait or type that did not come from either parent.