heterozygote
Noun: 1. An organism possessing two different alleles for a particular gene: In genetics, a heterozygote is an individual whose genotype for a specific genetic locus consists of two different alleles (one often dominant and one recessive). This genetic condition results in the potential for variation in offspring.
The term is used primarily in the fields of genetics, biology, and medicine to describe the genetic makeup of an organism. It contrasts with "homozygote."
Examples: - In a classic Mendelian cross, a heterozygote for flower color (e.g., possessing one allele for purple and one for white) will express the dominant trait. - The study focused on identifying heterozygotes within the population to track the inheritance pattern of the disease. - If both parents are carriers (heterozygotes) for the recessive disorder, there is a 25% chance their child will be affected.
- Heterozygote Advantage: A concept in evolutionary biology where individuals who are heterozygous at a particular locus have a greater fitness (survival and reproductive success) than either type of homozygote. A classic example is sickle cell trait, where heterozygotes have increased resistance to malaria.
- The persistence of the sickle cell allele in some populations is often explained by heterozygote advantage.
- Heterozygous (adj.): Describing the state of being a heterozygote.
- The plant was heterozygous for the seed shape gene.
- Heterozygosity (n.): The condition or proportion of being heterozygous in a population or at a locus.
- Carrier (in medical genetics, specifically for recessive disorders): An individual who is heterozygous for a recessive disease allele and does not show the disease phenotype but can pass it to offspring.
- Mixed genotype
- Homozygote (n.): An organism having two identical alleles for a particular gene.
- Homozygous (adj.): Describing the state of being a homozygote.
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(genetics) an organism having two different alleles of a particular gene and so giving rise to varying offspring
