heterozygous

[het-er-uh-zahy-guh s] /ˌhɛt ər əˈzaɪ gəs/
adjective, Biology
1.
having dissimilar pairs of genes for any hereditary characteristic.
2.
of or pertaining to a heterozygote.
Also, heterozygotic
[het-uh-roh-zahy-got-ik] /ˌhɛt ə roʊ zaɪˈgɒt ɪk/ (Show IPA).
Origin
1900-05; hetero- + Greek zygós, adj. derivative of zygón yolk; see -ous
Related forms
heterozygosity
[het-uh-roh-zahy-gos-i-tee] /ˌhɛt ə roʊ zaɪˈgɒs ɪ ti/ (Show IPA), noun
Examples from the web for heterozygous
  • We propose that these conditions may result in reduced metabolic costs of growth among the heterozygous individuals.
  • Outbreeding depression can and does occur when genes from two heterozygous parents come together to interact in a bad way.
British Dictionary definitions for heterozygous

heterozygous

/ˌhɛtərəʊˈzaɪɡəs/
adjective
1.
(genetics) (of an organism) having different alleles for any one gene: heterozygous for eye colour Compare homozygous
Word Origin and History for heterozygous
adj.

1889, from heterozygote, from hetero- + zygote.

heterozygous in Medicine

heterozygous het·er·o·zy·gous (hět'ər-ə-zī'gəs)
adj.

  1. Having different alleles at one or more corresponding chromosomal loci.

  2. Of or relating to a heterozygote.

heterozygous in Science
heterozygous
  (hět'ər-ə-zī'gəs)   
Relating to a cell that has two different alleles at corresponding positions on homologous chromosomes. Compare homozygous.