Logo
dictionary thesaurus

heterozygous

adjective
het·​ero·​zy·​gous | \ ˌhe-tə-rō-ˈzī-gəs How to pronounce heterozygous (audio) \

Definition of heterozygous

: having the two alleles at corresponding loci on homologous chromosomes different for one or more loci

Examples of heterozygous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 Using a dataset of the genomes of more than 400 deceased people, the researchers looked for instances of heterozygous genes: genes that are the result of a person inheriting a human gene from one parent and a Neanderthal gene from another. — Ben Panko, Smithsonian, "How Ancient Neanderthal DNA Still Influences Our Genes Today," 24 Feb. 2017 Using a dataset of the genomes of more than 400 deceased people, the researchers looked for instances of heterozygous genes: genes that are the result of a person inheriting a human gene from one parent and a Neanderthal gene from another. — Ben Panko, Smithsonian, "How Ancient Neanderthal DNA Still Influences Our Genes Today," 24 Feb. 2017

First Known Use of heterozygous

1902, in the meaning defined above

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for heterozygous

heterozygous

adjective
het·​ero·​zy·​gous | \ -gəs How to pronounce heterozygous (audio) \

Medical Definition of heterozygous

: having the two genes at corresponding loci on homologous chromosomes different for one or more loci — compare homozygous

WORD OF THE DAY

impute

play

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!