homozygous

[ hoh-muh-zahy-guh s, hom-uh- ]

/ ˌhoʊ məˈzaɪ gəs, ˌhɒm ə- /

adjective Biology.

having identical pairs of genes for any given pair of hereditary characteristics.

of or relating to a homozygote.

Nearby words

homotypic cortex, homovanillic acid, homozygosis, homozygosity, homozygote, homozygous, homozygous by descent, homs, homuncular, homunculus, homy

Also ho·mo·zy·got·ic

[hoh-moh-zahy-got-ik, hom-oh-] /ˌhoʊ moʊ zaɪˈgɒt ɪk, ˌhɒm oʊ-/.

Origin of homozygous

1900–05; homo- + Greek -zygos; see zygo-, -ous

Related formsho·mo·zy·gos·i·ty

[hoh-moh-zahy-gos-i-tee, -zi-, hom-oh-] /ˌhoʊ moʊ zaɪˈgɒs ɪ ti, -zɪ-, ˌhɒm oʊ-/, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for homozygous

homozygous

/ (ˌhəʊməʊˈzaɪɡəs, -ˈzɪɡ-, ˌhɒm-) /

adjective

genetics (of an organism) having identical alleles for any one genethese two fruit flies are homozygous for red eye colour Compare heterozygous

Derived Formshomozygously, adverb

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

Word Origin and History for homozygous

homozygous

adj.

1902, from homo- (1) "same" + zygote + -ous. Related: homozygote.

Medicine definitions for homozygous

homozygous

[ hō′mō-zī′gəs, -mə-, hŏm′ə- ]

adj.

Having the same alleles at one or more gene loci on homologous chromosome segments.

Science definitions for homozygous

homozygous

[ hō′mō-zī′gəs ]

Relating to a cell that has two identical alleles for a particular trait at corresponding positions on homologous chromosomes. Compare heterozygous.