What is heterozygote? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of heterozygote in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of heterozygote

heterozygotenoun
dị hợp tử
/ˌhetərəˈzaɪɡəʊt//ˌhetərəˈzaɪɡəʊt/

Where does the word heterozygote come from?

The word "heterozygote" originates from Greek roots. "Hetero-" means "different" or "other", and "-zygote" refers to the combination of two characteristic factors or genes. In genetics, a heterozygote is an individual that has two different forms or alleles of a particular gene, one inherited from each parent. The term was first coined in the early 20th century by the American geneticist William Bateson, who derived it from the Greek words "heteros" (different) and "zygotos" (yoked or paired). The concept of heterozygosity was crucial in understanding the principles of Mendelian inheritance and the mechanisms of inheritance of genetic traits. Etymologically, "heterozygote" has been a cornerstone in the development of modern genetics, enabling researchers to understand the complexities of genetic inheritance and the fascinating diversity of living organisms.

Vocabulary summary heterozygote

type plural noun

meaning heterozygous

Example of vocabulary heterozygotenamespace

In a population of heterozygous pea plants, some offspring inherited the dominant allele for seed color and others inherited the recessive allele, resulting in a mix of yellow and green seeds.
After studying the genes for lactose intolerance, scientists discovered that many individuals carrying both the intolerant and tolerant alleles were heterozygous and could consume small amounts of lactose without experiencing symptoms.
The heterozygous mosquito carrying the malaria parasite is less likely to be affected by the disease compared to the homozygous mosquito with two copies of the susceptible allele.
Cornell geneticists found that non-breading wheat was a heterozygote for a genes related to stem rust resistance and disease resistance.
In a garden filled with petunias, the ones displaying different variations of red, purple, and white flowers were all heterozygotes, carrying both a dominant and recessive allele for flower color.