allotype

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noun

A designated paratype of a species (or lower-order taxon) that is the opposite sex of the holotype.

Scrabble 13

Meanings

nounallotype (plural allotypes)

plural allotypes

  1. biologyA designated paratype of a species (or lower-order taxon) that is the opposite sex of the holotype.

    2007, Ivana Karanovic, Candoninae (Ostracoda) from the Pilbara Region in Western Australia, Koninklijke Brill, page 182, The allotype female has one T2 deformed (fig. 75D), while the other one is normally developed.

  2. biochemistryA genetically determined variant of the amino acid sequence of a protein.
    1 more example

    2007, I. D. Walker, G. Winter, D. J. Worthington, Chapter 2: Structural Investigations of Peptides and Proteins: I: Primary Structure and Chemical Modification, R. C. Sheppard, Amino Acids, Peptides and Proteins, Volume 8, The Chemical Society, page 145, Until recently, different C-region allotypes were explained by allelic genes which each encoded a different but closely related protein sequence.

  3. immunologyAn immunoglobulin allotype; the allele of the antibody chains found in an individual.

    The products of allelic forms of the same gene are known as allotypes. Allotypes are now known for all mouse heavy chains (Stall, 1995). There are no known serologically detectable allotypes of mouse κ chains.

    1996, James W. Goding, Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Practice, 3rd edition, Academic Press, page 102
    2 more examples

    Since different individuals of the same species may have different allotypes, these determinants can be used as genetic markers. The most common technique used for allotype determination is hemagglutination-inhibition.

    2007, Janardan P. Pandey, “7: Genetics of Immunoglobulins”, in Gabriel Virella, editor, Medical Immunology, 6th edition, Informa Healthcare, page 77

    Allotypes were originally defined by antisera that differentiated allelic variants of immunoglobulin (Ig) subclasses. The allotype is due to the existence of different alleles at the genetic locus that determines the expression of a given determinant.

    2009, Julius M. Cruse, Robert E. Lewis, Illustrated Dictionary of Immunology, 3rd edition, Taylor & Francis (CRC Press), page 32

Origin

Translations

Portuguese alótipo, alótipo
  • alótipospecimen that exemplifies the opposite sex of the holotype
  • alótipothe allele of the antibody chains found in an individual
Russian аллотип
  • аллотип (allotip)specimen that exemplifies the opposite sex of the holotype
Cite this entry
APA

allotype. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/allotype

MLA

“allotype.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/allotype. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “allotype,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/allotype.

Source: allotype on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.