hete
ro
zy
gote
Plural
heterozygotes
1
an individual organism or cell with two different alleles at a specific gene locus, having inherited different genetic information from each parent
- An organism with one allele for brown eyes and one for blue eyes is a heterozygote for the eye color gene.
- In pea plants, a heterozygote for seed color may have one allele for yellow seeds and one for green seeds.
- A heterozygote for a gene related to taste perception might have one allele for tasting a certain compound and one for not tasting it.
- Individuals with one allele for attached earlobes and one for free-hanging earlobes are heterozygotes for the earlobe trait.
- A person with one allele for the ability to taste a bitter substance and one for the inability is a heterozygote for taste perception.