What is homozygote? How to use in English

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

Definition & pronunciation of homozygote

homozygotenoun

đồng hợp tử

/ˌhɒməˈzaɪɡəʊt//ˌhəʊməˈzaɪɡəʊt/

Where does the word homozygote come from?

The term "homozygote" has its roots in the Latin language. The word "homo" means "same," and "zygote" refers to a cell formed by the fusion of two gametes (sperm and egg). In the field of genetics, homozygote specifically refers to an individual who has two copies of the same allele (a variant of a gene) for a particular gene, one inherited from each parent. The concept of homozygosity was first described by Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk and botanist, in the mid-19th century. He realized that when an individual inherits two identical alleles for a particular trait, the trait will be expressed consistently. The term "homozygote" was later coined to describe this phenomenon, reflecting the idea that the two alleles are "the same" or "homogeneous." Today, the term is widely used in genetics and biomedical research to describe individuals with a specific genetic makeup.

Vocabulary summary homozygote

typenoun

meaning(biology) homozygous

Example of vocabulary homozygotenamespace

  • The homozygous pea plants produced only yellow flowers, as they inherited two copies of the gene responsible for producing yellow pigment.
  • Homozygous breeding can be achieved by self-fertilization, as plants that have the same allele in a particular gene will pass it on to their offspring.
  • In a population of genes, homozygotes have two identical alleles for a given trait, whereas heterozygotes have two different alleles.
  • The homozygous gene for carrying the sickle cell trait is known to cause health problems during childhood, while the heterozygous genes lead to sickle cell anemia in adulthood.
  • Homozygous plants are more easily identified and cataloged, as they will always have the same phenotype and will not deviate from it.

Synonyms and related words for homozygote

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