Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having identical alleles for a specific gene at corresponding positions on paired chromosomes: In genetics, an organism is described as homozygous when it possesses two identical forms (alleles) of a particular gene, one inherited from each parent, at a given locus on its chromosomes.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The plant is homozygous for the tall stem gene, meaning both alleles are the same.
  • To be homozygous for a recessive trait like blue eyes, an individual must inherit the recessive allele from both parents.
  • The researcher confirmed the mice were homozygous for the engineered mutation.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific Context: The term is primarily used in genetics, biology, and related fields. It describes the genotype (genetic makeup) of an organism regarding a specific trait.
  • The study focused on a population that was homozygous for the wild-type allele.
• Contrast with Heterozygous: Often used in contrast to its opposite, "heterozygous," which means having two different alleles for a gene.
  • A homozygous dominant individual (AA) will express the dominant trait, while a heterozygous individual (Aa) may also express it.

Variants and Related Words

• Homozygosity (noun): The state or condition of being homozygous.
  • The homozygosity of the population made it susceptible to certain genetic diseases.
• Homozygote (noun): An individual organism that is homozygous for a particular gene.
  • This seed will grow into a homozygote for flower color.

Synonyms

• True-breeding (in the context of Mendelian inheritance): Often used to describe homozygous organisms that, when self-fertilized or crossed with a genetically identical partner, produce offspring with the same trait consistently.

Antonyms

• Heterozygous (adjective): Having two different alleles for a specific gene at corresponding chromosomal loci.

Adjective

1. having identical alleles at corresponding chromosomal loci
   • these two fruit flies are homozygous for red eye color