Dictionary > Heterosis

Heterosis

Definition
noun, plural: heteroses
A tendency of an organism to have superior qualities over those of the parents in relation to size, growth rate, yield, fertility and fecundity
Supplement
The physiological vitality of an organism is evident in its speediness of growth, its height and general strength that is certainly allied with the amount of difference in the gametes by whose unification of the organism was formed.
Plant and animal breeders always develop heterosis by mating two different purebred lines that have advantageous traits. In the first age group progeny normally demonstrate a better measure compare to the preferred characteristics of both parents. This vigour might decline if the hybrids are mated together thus, parental lines must be uphold and crossed for every new desired organisms.
Heterosis refers to the event that offspring of assorted varieties of a species reveals better biomass, speed of development, and fertility than both parents. Some models have been situated to explain heterosis, including dominance, overdominance, and pseudo-overdominance. The more copious the disparity between the uniting gametes within definite restrictions, the better of the whole is the quantity of motivation.
Word Origin: heteros (“alter”, “different”)
See also:

Compare:

  • inbreeding depression
  • Related terms:

    • heterotic (adjective, of, relating to, or pertaining to heterosis)


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