Heterosis

Quick meaning: Heterosis is a noun meaning (genetics) The tendency of cross-breeding to produce an animal or plant with a greater hardiness than its parents; hybrid vigour.

Meaning

(genetics) The tendency of cross-breeding to produce an animal or plant with a greater hardiness than its parents; hybrid vigour.

Example Sentences

Hybridisation can also result in heterosis - the scientific term for the production of ʽsuper fit’ hybrid individuals - many examples of which come from agriculture. Heterosis can be thought of as the opposite of inbreeding depression, the phenomenon whereby the offspring of individuals that are genetically too similar - for example, brother and sister - can suffer from debilitating maladies.

Word Forms

• heteroses

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include heterobeltiosis, hybrid, hybridism, heterozygosis, heteroploidy, hybridization.

Related Dictionary Tools