Heterozygous
- Pronunciation
- /hee-ter-o-ZIGH-us/
- Category
- Genetics
- Singular
- Heterozygous
- Plural
- Heterozygous
Definition
Having two different alleles of a gene.
Etymology
From Greek 'heteros', meaning 'different', and 'zygos', meaning 'yoked' or 'paired'.
Example
An individual can be heterozygous for the gene for eye color, carrying one allele for brown eyes and one allele for blue eyes.