Crossword Genius

Trees as an object of study? (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

genealogy

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'study?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot see how one could define the other.

'trees as an object' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'an' could be 'a' and 'a' is found in the answer.
'object' could be 'gene' (gene is a kind of object) and 'gene' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'logy' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'of' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for genealogy that I've seen before include "Study of family lines" , "The study of ancestry" , "Study of lines of descent" , "Study of family trees" , "Study of family descent" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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