heterozygosis

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noun

The fusion of two genetically different gametes

OriginEnglish zygosis ← Ancient Greek ἕτερος (héteros) ← Proto-Hellenic *hə́teros →
Scrabble 29
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Meanings

nounheterozygosis (plural heterozygoses)

plural heterozygoses

  1. biologyThe fusion of two genetically different gametes

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*sem-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*sḿ̥teros
  3. Proto-Hellenic*hə́teros
  4. Ancient Greekἕτερος (héteros)
  5. Englishhetero-
  6. Englishzygosis
  7. Englishheterozygosis

From hetero- + zygosis.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

heterozygosis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heterozygosis

MLA

“heterozygosis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heterozygosis. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “heterozygosis,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heterozygosis.

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