test-cross

8.9

A breeding test that finds hidden genes by crossing with a plant or animal showing the recessive trait

noun
/ˈtɛst krɔs/

Specialized

: cruzamiento de prueba

So this notion of a test cross is something you can use to figure out genotype.

Examples

Geneticists often perform a test cross to identify the genotype of a plant by analyzing its offspring.
So here's the test cross in this case.
To confirm whether the plant is homozygous or heterozygous, scientists conducted a test cross with a recessive partner.
The test cross revealed that the unknown specimen carried at least one dominant allele.

Synonyms

testcross

vstest-cross

Specialized

8.8

A cross between an individual with unknown genes and a recessive individual to find the unknown genes from offspring

is identical in meaning but written as a single unhyphenated word

Surface Forms

test-cross singular

test-crosses plural

Morphology

test-cross = test + cross (semi-transparent) = test + cross

Components 'test' and 'cross' are clear, but the specific technical meaning referring to a genetics procedure requires domain knowledge beyond general word composition.

Etymology

Test-cross combines test ('to check') and cross ('to mate'), so it literally means a mating done to check something. In biology, a test-cross is a mating with an individual that always shows the recessive trait to see the offspring and learn the unknown parent's hidden genes.