dysgenesis
Definition
- Noun:
- Infertility between hybrids: A condition characterized by the inability to produce viable offspring, specifically occurring in the offspring resulting from the crossbreeding of different species or significantly different varieties.
- Defective or abnormal development of an organ or tissue: A more general medical term for faulty or impaired development, particularly of the reproductive organs.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The mule is a classic example of dysgenesis, as it is almost always sterile.
- Gonadal dysgenesis is a condition where the reproductive glands do not develop properly.
Advanced Usage
- "Hybrid dysgenesis": A specific biological phenomenon in genetics where hybrid offspring exhibit sterility, mutations, or other deleterious traits due to incompatible genetic elements from the parent strains.
- Hybrid dysgenesis in fruit flies is a well-studied model for understanding genetic incompatibility.
Variants and Related Words
- Dysgenic (adj): Relating to or causing the deterioration of genetic qualities in a population.
- Some argued that certain social policies could have dysgenic effects.
- Dysgenics (n): The study of or belief in factors causing the degeneration of a population's gene pool.
Synonyms
- Sterility (in the context of hybrid infertility): The inability to produce offspring.
- Maldevelopment: Defective or abnormal development.
Related Terms and Phrases
- Gonadal dysgenesis: A medical condition involving the improper development of the gonads (ovaries or testes).
- Turner syndrome is often associated with gonadal dysgenesis.
Noun
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infertility between hybrids
