Heterozygous
/ˌhɛtərəˈzaɪɡəs/noun
Having two different alleles of a particular gene, one inherited from each parent.
Did you know?The genetic term contains Greek zygon, meaning “yoke,” because a zygote was imagined as the product of two reproductive cells joined or yoked together.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*yeug-
“To join, unite, or yoke together”
Ancient Greek
Greek
zygon
“A yoke; something used for joining”
Ancient Greek
Greek
heteros
“The other; different”
19th Century
Greek-derived science
heterozygotos
“Differently yoked; formed from unlike paired elements”
1902
German
heterozygot
“Having unlike hereditary factors; introduced in the development of genetic terminology”
20th Century
English
heterozygous
“Having two different alleles of a gene”