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homozygote

homozygote

1 9.1
An animal or plant that has two identical copies of a gene for one trait
  • noun
  • /ˌhoʊməˈzaɪɡoʊt/
  • Specialized
: homocigoto
  • Excesses in heterozygote frequencies are expected in outcrossing species, while excesses in homozygote frequencies are considered characteristic of inbreeding species.
  • carriers to homozygotes

Examples

  • The sickle homozygotes suffer from complications of anemia.

  • The protein produced by the second mutant, S442P S969F, is clearly stable at the permissive temperature, given the normal muscle structure in the homozygote (Figure 2).

    Academic text (2016)
  • So irrespective of the size, the TT homozygotes had really slow rates of expansion.

  • The dominant model for all Asians combined in the Singapore sample compares S carriers to L homozygotes.

    Academic text (2016)
  • In malarial environments, the antimalarial benefits to the more numerous heterozygotes offset the severe disadvantage to the far less numerous homozygotes.

    Academic text (1993)
  • In genetics, a homozygote has two identical alleles, such as the TT genotype in plants.

  • The researchers found that individuals who are homozygotes for the cystic fibrosis gene often exhibit similar symptoms.

  • To understand plant breeding, we study how homozygotes and heterozygotes interact in the gene pool.

How Heterozygous

heterozygote
  • Specialized
1 9.9
homozygote
  • Specialized
1 9.1

Surface Forms

homozygote singular
homozygotes plural

Morphology

homozygote = homo + zygote (semi-transparent) = homo + zygote

While the components 'homo' and 'zygote' are clear, the specific genetic context of 'homozygote' may not be immediately apparent to all learners.

Etymology

Homozygote comes from homo- meaning 'same', as in homogeneous, and zygote from a root meaning 'yoke' or 'joining'. So a homozygote is a living thing with two 'same' versions of a gene joined together, which makes it show the same trait.