heterozygous

[ het-er-uh-zahy-guhs ]

adjective

, Genetics.

1. relating to or being a heterozygote, an organism that possesses a pair of differing alleles, one dominant and one recessive, of a particular gene.

heterozygous

/ ˌhɛtərəʊˈzaɪɡəs /

adjective

1. genetics (of an organism) having different alleles for any one gene Compare homozygous

   heterozygous for eye colour

heterozygous

/ hĕt′ər-ə-zī′gəs /

1. Relating to a cell that has two different alleles at corresponding positions on homologous chromosomes.
2. Compare homozygous

Other Words From

• het·er·o·zy·gos·i·ty [het-, uh, -roh-zahy-, gos, -i-tee], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of heterozygous¹

First recorded in 1900–05; hetero- + Greek zygós, adjective derivative of zygón “yolk”; -ous

Example Sentences

This would indicate that the frog belongs to those animals in which the male is heterozygous for sex.

From Project Gutenberg

Being heterozygous for two factors they will produce four kinds of gametes in equal numbers, viz.

From Project Gutenberg

Such birds being heterozygous for the inhibitor factor, should be whites showing some coloured "ticks."

From Project Gutenberg

The cross between a heterozygous dominant and a recessive also leads to equal numbers of recessives and of heterozygous dominants.

From Project Gutenberg

There exists repulsion between the factors G and F in a zygote which is heterozygous for them both.

From Project Gutenberg