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outcross

outcross

8.2
A mating of animals or plants from different genetic lines, including the young it produces
  • noun
  • /ˈaʊtˌkrɔs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cruzamiento
  • It's well-known that the old-type collie was a common outcross for retrievers in the early part of the nineteenth century.

Examples

  • The Castro itself has a 100% self-contained gene pool, with no outcrosses to other breeds.

    Blog text (8)
  • An outcross can help improve the health of a breed by introducing new genetic traits.

  • Many breeders perform an outcross to reduce the risk of inherited diseases in their dogs.

  • The research showed that the best specimens came from careful outcross practices between different genetic lines.

Synonyms

cross
vsoutcross
  • Specialized
105 5.9

An offspring of two different breeds or varieties

is specifically about mating across genetic lines, often within a species
interbreeding
vsoutcross
4 6.2

Animals or plants from different groups produce mixed young

is limited to mating across genetic lines, not necessarily involving different species
hybridization
vsoutcross
  • Specialized
3 6.1

Breeding two different plants or animals to make offspring with mixed traits

is narrower, referring to mating between genetic lines rather than always between species
crossbreeding
vsoutcross
2 4.4

Mixing different kinds of animals or plants to make young with chosen traits

is focused on mating between genetic lines specifically, not always for trait goals
outcrossing
vsoutcross
  • Specialized
8.2

Breeding animals or plants from different groups to increase gene variety

is the general mating between different genetic lines, not only for diversity
outbreeding
vsoutcross
  • Specialized
7.7

Encouraging mating between animals or plants that are not closely related to make their genes more different

is the mating event itself between different genetic lines rather than a policy
crossbred
vsoutcross
4.6

An animal or plant born from parents of different breeds, often from different varieties

refers to the mating between different genetic lines or its offspring more generally
intercrossing
vsoutcross
  • Specialized
7.0

A process in which different breeds or groups mate to make hybrid young

is the single act or offspring from crossing different genetic lines
cross-fertilization
vsoutcross
  • Specialized
5.6

The joining of an egg and sperm from different individuals of the same species

is broader, covering mating between different genetic lines, not only gamete transfer
hybridism
vsoutcross
  • Specialized
7.2

A process of making something new by joining two different species or languages

is more specific to mating between distinct genetic lines rather than hybrid theory
mongrelization
vsoutcross
9.1

Mixing different breeds to make animals or plants with mixed traits

is a neutral term for mating across genetic lines without implying mixed breeding stigma

How Diverse

hybridization
  • Specialized
3 6.1
outcross
  • Specialized
8.2
inbreeding
  • Specialized
12 6.9

Surface Forms

outcross singular
outcrosses plural

Morphology

outcross = cross (semi-transparent) = out + cross

The prefix 'out-' suggests 'outside' or 'beyond', but the specific meaning of genetic crossing is specialized.

Etymology

Outcross is made of out- ('outside') and cross ('to mate' or 'mix'), like in crossbreed. An outcross is a mating or the offspring from parents of different lines, used to add genetic variety and reduce inherited health problems.