Hemizygote
Hemizygote
Hemizygote (pronunciation: /ˈhɛmɪzaɪɡoʊt/) is a term used in genetics to describe an organism that has only one copy of a particular gene instead of the usual two. This can occur in several ways, such as when a gene is found on a sex chromosome in males, or when a gene is deleted from one chromosome in a pair.
Etymology
The term "hemizygote" is derived from the Greek words "hemi," meaning half, and "zygote," referring to a fertilized egg. In this context, it refers to the fact that only half the usual number of copies of a gene is present.
Related Terms
- Homozygote: An organism that has two identical alleles of a gene.
- Heterozygote: An organism that has two different alleles of a gene.
- Allele: One of two or more versions of a gene that are found at the same place on a chromosome.
- Chromosome: A thread-like structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.
- Gene: A unit of heredity which is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Hemizygote
- Wikipedia's article - Hemizygote
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