heterosis

[ het-uh-roh-sis ]

/ ˌhɛt əˈroʊ sɪs /

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noun Genetics.

the increase in growth, size, fecundity, function, yield, or other characters in hybrids over those of the parents.

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Also called hybrid vigor.

Origin of heterosis

First recorded in 1910–15, heterosis is from the Late Greek word hetérōsis an alteration. See hetero-, -sis

Words nearby heterosis

heteroscedastic, heterosex, heterosexism, heterosexual, heterosexuality, heterosis, heterosocial, heterosporous, heterospory, heterostracan, heterostyled

British Dictionary definitions for heterosis

heterosis

/ (ˌhɛtəˈrəʊsɪs) /

noun

biology another name for hybrid vigour

Word Origin for heterosis

C19: from Late Greek: alteration, from Greek heteroioun to alter, from heteros other, different

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