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Glite Dictionary
👑 Very controlling 🧬 Stronger mixed genes
overdominant

overdominant

9.6
A gene that gives better survival when an animal or plant has two different copies
  • adjective
  • /ˌoʊvərˈdɒmɪnənt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : sobredominante
  • An overdominant genotype may give rise to individuals that outperform their homozygous counterparts in terms of growth and reproduction.

Examples

  • Ayroles and colleagues (2009) also assessed the mode of gene action associated with inbreeding depression (whether gene expression is additive, dominant, or overdominant; see figure 2).

    Academic text (2010)

  • Figure 2: Mode of action for additive, dominant, underdominant, and overdominant gene expression.

    Academic text (2010)

  • In some species, the overdominant allele produces stronger offspring in mixed pairings than when two identical alleles are combined.

  • Research indicates that overdominant traits can enhance survival rates in hybrid plants, allowing them to thrive in diverse environments.

Surface Forms

overdominant positive

Morphology

overdominant = dominant (semi-transparent) = over + dominant

Formally 'over-' + 'dominant', but the specific genetic sense (heterozygote advantage) is a specialized technical meaning not deducible by general learners.

Etymology

Overdominant comes from over- 'above' and dominant 'strong or in control', and in genetics it names a gene that is stronger when two different copies are together than when each copy is alone. So, an overdominant gene is 'more powerful' in the mixed form, which helps explain its special genetic effect.