Bateson was the first to suggest the word `` genetics '' to describe the study of inheritance , in a letter to Adam Sedgwick , dated April 18 , 1905 . Bateson was the first to suggest the word `` genetics '' ( from the Greek gennÅ , Î Î Î 1\/2 Î 1\/2 Ï ; to give birth ) to describe the study of inheritance and the science of variation in a personal letter to Adam Sedgwick ( 1854-1913 , a Cambridge zoologist , not to be confused with the geologist of that name who lived 1785-1873 ) , dated April 18 , 1905 .