heterozygous

het·er·o·zy·gous (htr--zgs)

adj.

1. Having different alleles at one or more corresponding chromosomal loci.

2. Of or relating to a heterozygote.

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Heterozygous

Two different genes controlling a specified inherited trait.

Mentioned in: Hemoglobin Electrophoresis

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heterozygous

[het′ərəzī′gəs]

Etymology: Gk, heteros + zygotos, yoked

having two different alleles at corresponding loci on homologous chromosomes. An individual who is heterozygous for a trait has inherited an allele for that trait from one parent and an alternative allele from the other parent. An individual who is heterozygous for a genetic disease caused by a dominant allele, such as Huntington's disease, manifests the disorder. A person who is heterozygous for a hereditary disorder produced by a recessive allele, such as sickle cell anemia, is asymptomatic or exhibits reduced symptoms of the disease. The offspring of a heterozygous carrier of a genetic disorder have a 50% chance of inheriting the allele associated with the disorder if the other parent does not carry the allele. Compare homozygous.

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heterozygous (het´rōzī´gus),

adj a term indicating that genes lying at equivalent loci on chromosome pairs are different.

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heterozygous

having different alleles at the one locus.