heterosis en · NOUN
Etymology
From hetero- + -osis.
Meanings
-
(countable, uncountable) The tendency of cross-breeding to produce an animal or plant with a greater hardiness than its parents; hybrid vigour.
Hybridisation can also result in heterosis - the scientific term for the production of ʽsuper fit’ hybrid individuals - many examples of which come from agriculture. Heterosis can be thought of as the opposite of inbreeding depression, the phenomenon whereby the offspring of individuals that are genetically too similar - for example, brother and sister - can suffer from debilitating maladies.
2018, Tim Flannery, Europe: A Natural History, page 159:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| heteroses | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Relateds
Translations (4)
ga heatróis (hybrid vigour) · cy heterosis (hybrid vigour) · fi heteroosi (hybrid vigour) · ru гетеро́зис (hybrid vigour)