3 ms·

Thanks for the etymology. Never thought meme came out of gene.

• StavrosK 6y ago
  It didn't, it's from a Greek word.
• dredmorbius 6y ago
  It resembles "gene" but has an independent origin: meme (n.) "an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture," 1976, introduced by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins in "The Selfish Gene," coined by him from Greek sources, such as mimeisthai "to imitate" (see mime (n.)), and intended to echo gene. https://www.etymonline.com/word/meme https://www.etymonline.com/word/meme Gene: from Greek genea "generation, race". https://www.etymonline.com/word/gene https://www.etymonline.com/word/gene
  • xsmasher 6y ago
    Not that "independent" - as the etymology you quoted says, it was intentionally constructed to resemble the work gene. Saying "meme came out of gene" is a perfectly reasonable statement.