heterozygote
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of heterozygote
Explanation
A heterozygote is a living thing that has two different versions of a given gene. If a cat inherits a gene for black fur from its mother and one for gray fur from its father, it is a heterozygote. The different forms of a gene are called alleles. Organisms inherit one allele for each gene from their biological parents. If those genes are different — e.g., one for gray fur, and one for black fur — the offspring is a heterozygote with respect to fur color. What color fur will a heterozygous cat have? It depends on which gene is dominant. Since the gene for black fur is dominant, the cat would be black. However, the cat could pass on the non-dominant, or recessive, gene to its offspring.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Figure 12.5 A test cross can be performed to determine whether an organism expressing a dominant trait is a homozygote or a heterozygote.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022
This may occur when the mutant allele somehow interferes with the genetic message so that even a heterozygote with one wild-type allele copy expresses the mutant phenotype.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022
The probability of the homozygote or the heterozygote is 1/4 + 1/2 = 3/4 using the sum rule.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022
Coat color depends on the A gene, which shows dominance, with the recessive homozygote showing a different phenotype than the heterozygote or dominant homozygote.
From Textbooks ● Apr. 25, 2013
The heterozygote individual in typical cases shows the dominant character.
From Hormones and Heredity by J. T. Cunningham
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