Heterozygous

The state of having two different forms of a particular gene, one inherited from each parent. A person who is heterozygous is called a heterozygote or a gene carrier. For example, a woman who is heterozygous for cystic fibrosis (CF) carries the CF gene on one of her chromosomes number 7 and has the normal paired (non-CF) gene at the same position (locus) on her other chromosome 7. She is a carrier for CF but has no signs or symptoms of the disease. The opposite of heterozygous is homozygous, the inheritance of the same form of a gene from both parents.

* * *

Having different alleles at one locus regarding a specific character; heterotic.

- doubly h. in the analysis of linkage between two loci, denoting that genotype in which a parent is h. at both loci, the state that on average contains the maximum information about the linkage.

* * *

het·ero·zy·gous -gəs adj having the two genes at corresponding loci on homologous chromosomes different for one or more loci compare HOMOZYGOUS

* * *

adj.

describing an individual in whom the members of a pair of genes determining a particular characteristic are dissimilar. See allele. Compare homozygous.

• heterozygote n.