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Synonyms

introgression

American  
[in-truh-gresh-uhn] / ˌɪn trəˈgrɛʃ ən /

noun

Genetics.
  1. the introduction of genes from one species into the gene pool of another species, occurring when matings between the two produce fertile hybrids.


introgression British  
/ ˌɪntrəˈɡrɛʃən /

noun

  1. the introduction of genes from the gene pool of one species into that of another during hybridization

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of introgression

First recorded in 1930–35 (earlier in literal sense of Latin ); from Latin intrōgress(us) past participle of intrōgredī “to go in, enter” ( intrō- “within, inward” + -gred-, combining form of grad(ī) “to proceed, walk” + -tus past participle suffix, with -dt- becoming -ss- ); -ion, intro-

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.

“It made sense that introgression from mexicana was important for adaptation to the highlands,” says Maud Tenaillon, a population geneticist who studies maize at CNRS, France’s national research agency, and Paris-Saclay University.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 29, 2023

EPA regulators agreed that what the Yale scientists had found — the transfer of DNA from the corporate-created mosquitoes to the wild population, which is called introgression — was a concern.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2022

Adaptive introgression of mimicry loci is therefore a plausible explanation for parallel evolution of multiple mimetic patterns in the –silvaniform clade.

From Nature • Jul. 4, 2012

Here we use genomic tools to investigate introgression in Heliconius, a rapidly radiating genus of neotropical butterflies widely used in studies of ecology, behaviour, mimicry and speciation.

From Nature • Jul. 4, 2012

Gene genealogies at a small number of loci indicate introgression between species, and one non-mimetic species, Heliconius heurippa, has a hybrid origin.

From Nature • Jul. 4, 2012