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.

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introgression British  

/ ˌɪntrəˈɡrɛʃən /

noun

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

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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- ); see -ion, intro-

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

introgression

A 2019 review in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology documents at least three distinct introgression events from Denisovan-like populations into south-east Asian and Oceanic ancestors alone, some occurring as recently as 20,000 years ago.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 5, 2026

This transfer of genetic material from one species to another is known as introgression.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 5, 2026

“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

Our genome-scale analysis provides considerably greater power than previous tests of introgression.

From Nature ● Jul. 4, 2012

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