heterogametic
- adjective
- /ˌhɛtərəˈɡæmətɪk/
- Specialized
- In many species, males are considered the heterogametic sex because they have XY chromosomes.
Examples
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We speculate that females, the heterogametic sex in birds, may be more sensitive to parasites or environmental changes, or perhaps more prone to predation.
Academic text (2006) -
Another early success at Oxford was an empirical generalization known as Haldane's Rule: in interspecies hybrids, if one sex is absent, rare, or sterile, it is the heterogametic sex (Haldane 1922).
Academic text (1992) -
The heterogametic condition of the males, having different sex chromosomes, plays a crucial role in genetic diversity.
-
Researchers found that the heterogametic sex often exhibits unique traits due to their differing sex chromosomes.
Surface Forms
Morphology
heterogametic = heterogamete (semi-transparent) = hetero + gamet + ic
The suffix '-ic' forms an adjective, but the specific meaning related to sex chromosomes requires specialized knowledge.
Etymology
Heterogametic comes from the prefix hetero- meaning 'different' and gamete meaning 'sex cell', like an egg or a sperm. So heterogametic describes an organism that has two different sex chromosomes and makes different kinds of sex cells.
