algeny

A1L1G2E1N1Y4
/ˈæl.d͡ʒɛn.i/

noun

The transformation of genetic material.

OriginEnglish gene ← Old French alkimie ← Medieval Latin alchēmīa →
Scrabble 10
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Meanings

nounalgeny (uncountable)
  1. uncountableThe transformation of genetic material.
  2. uncountableAny of, and all of, those activities which depend on the handling of genetic material.

    Algeny will eradicate infirmities and deformities of all kinds.

    2000, J. R. Aldergrove, Why We Are Not Obsolete Yet: Genetics, Algeny, and the Future, section 5

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ǵʰew-
  2. Ancient Greekχῠ́μᾰ (khŭ́mă)
  3. Ancient Greekχυμείᾱ (khumeíā)
  4. Arabicالْكِيمِيَاء (al-kīmiyāʔ)
  5. Medieval Latinalchēmīa
  6. Old Frenchalkimie
  7. Englishalchemy
  8. Englishgene
  9. Englishalgeny

Coined by American molecular biologist Joshua Lederberg in 1966, a blend of alchemy + gene.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Portuguese algenia
  • algeniathe transformation of genetic material

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

GanleyGalyengalenyYelangangely
Cite this entry
APA

algeny. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/algeny

MLA

“algeny.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/algeny. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “algeny,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/algeny.

Source: algeny on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.