Heterozygous
Heterozygous
Heterozygous (/ˌhɛtəroʊˈzaɪɡəs/; from the Greek roots hetero- meaning "different" and zygous meaning "joined or paired") is a term used in Genetics to describe a particular type of genetic condition.
Definition
A gene or an organism is said to be heterozygous when it carries two different alleles of the same gene. This is in contrast to a homozygous organism, which carries two copies of the same allele.
Etymology
The term "heterozygous" is derived from the Greek words heteros meaning "different" and zygon meaning "yoke". It was first used in the early 20th century to describe the condition of having two different alleles for a single trait.
Related Terms
- Allele: One of two or more versions of a gene that are found at the same place on a chromosome.
- Homozygous: An organism that has two identical alleles for a trait.
- Genotype: The genetic makeup of an organism.
- Phenotype: The physical characteristics of an organism that are determined by its genotype.
- Dominant allele: An allele that is fully expressed in the phenotype of a heterozygote.
- Recessive allele: An allele that is masked in the phenotype of a heterozygote.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Heterozygous
- Wikipedia's article - Heterozygous
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