heterozygous

[ het-er-uh-zahy-guh s ]
/ ˌhɛt ər əˈzaɪ gəs /

adjective Biology.

having dissimilar pairs of genes for any hereditary characteristic.
of or relating to a heterozygote.
Also het·er·o·zy·got·ic [het-uh-roh-zahy-got-ik] /ˌhɛt ə roʊ zaɪˈgɒt ɪk/.

Origin of heterozygous

1900–05; hetero- + Greek zygós, adj. derivative of zygón yolk; see -ous

OTHER WORDS FROM heterozygous

het·er·o·zy·gos·i·ty [het-uh-roh-zahy-gos-i-tee] /ˌhɛt ə roʊ zaɪˈgɒs ɪ ti/, noun

Words nearby heterozygous

heteroxenous, heteroxenous parasite, heterozygosis, heterozygosity, heterozygote, heterozygous, heth, hetian, hetman, hetmanate, hetp

British Dictionary definitions for heterozygosity

heterozygous
/ (ˌhɛtərəʊˈzaɪɡəs) /

adjective

genetics (of an organism) having different alleles for any one gene heterozygous for eye colour Compare homozygous

Medical definitions for heterozygosity (1 of 2)

heterozygosity
[ hĕt′ə-rō-zī-gŏs′ĭ-tē ]

n.

The state of being heterozygous.

Medical definitions for heterozygosity (2 of 2)

heterozygous
[ hĕt′ər-ə-zī′gəs ]

adj.

Having different alleles at one or more corresponding chromosomal loci.
Of or relating to a heterozygote.

Scientific definitions for heterozygosity

heterozygous
[ hĕt′ər-ə-zī′gəs ]

Relating to a cell that has two different alleles at corresponding positions on homologous chromosomes. Compare homozygous.